At least 20 prisoners broke out of a Syrian prison on Monday, taking advantage of a terrible earthquake that claimed thousands of lives. After the earthquake, the jail inmates staged a rebellion and broke out. More than 2,000 prisoners, including approximately 1,300 members of the terrorist organization Islamic State, are held in the military police jail in the town of Rajo in southwest Syria.
“After the earthquake struck, Rajo was affected and inmates started to mutiny and took control of parts of the prison,” a jail official was quoted as saying by AFP. “About 20 prisoners fled…who are believed to be IS terrorists.”
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake with an epicentre close to the Syrian border struck the area on Monday
The war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights issued a statement in which it acknowledged that there had been a mutiny but could not determine whether the inmates had escaped. A little over a month after the terrorist group launched an attack in Raqa to free the jihadists, IS agents are allegedly on the run.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter close to the Syrian border struck the area on Monday while the majority of people in Turkey and Syria were sound sleeping. Buildings were left hanging and some high-rises were instantly flattened by the intense shockwaves. Italy issued tsunami warnings that were later rescinded.
A seven-day national mourning period has been established by the Turkish President
A few hours after the first earthquake, which the survivors had barely survived, a 7.5-magnitude aftershock struck the area, adding to the suffering. The United Nations has estimated that the death toll might reach more than 20,000 based on preliminary figures.
A seven-day national mourning period has been established by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the meantime, aid has poured into the country that has been devastated. Many nations have offered to send help and rescue personnel. The complete picture, though, might not be available for months due to the extent of the destruction. Saving people who may still be breathing beneath the wreckage is still the first concern.