SAO PAOLO, Sept 18 — At least 10 prisoners escaped through a tunnel they dug at Pedrinhas prison in Sao Luis de Maranhao, Brazil on early yesterday.

According to RTE News, authorities conducted a general inspection at the prison on Saturday but did not inspect the facilities over the next three days. This reportedly gave the prisoners time to dig a tunnel.

The prisoners escaped via the tunnel at about 4am. Authorities did not disclose the exact number of escaped prisoners.

There have been three escapes from the same prison this month. On Monday, a prison director was arrested for taking bribes to allow prisoners to escape. While last week, 36 prisoners escaped after stealing a dumper truck to break a hole in the rear wall of the facility.

Maranhao’s secretary of state for justice Sebastiao Uchida handed in his resignation following the latest escape. — Reuters

The prisoners escaped via the tunnel at about 4am. Authorities did not disclose the exact number of escaped prisoners.