Police in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are busy dealing with a mass jailbreak by "high risk" prisoners, the website of The National, one of the leading newspapers in PNG, reported Wednesday.

The breakout of 42 inmates from Baisu Jail in Western Highlands Province on early Tuesday morning followed a confrontation between prisoners and warders over the death on Monday of an ill prisoner on remand, the report said.

PNG Police Commissioner Gari Baki said these prisoners have managed to break out of the prison at a time when the nation was preparing for next month's general election.

Sources said the prisoners had requested Correctional Service officers to transport the sick inmate to hospital last Sunday so he could be treated, but this request was ignored because of no transport.

The sick inmate died in the early hours of Monday in the cell.

Only two escapees were recaptured while the rest are still at large after angry inmates broke out by cutting through the security fencing at their two-cell blocks early Tuesday morning.

These escapees are wanted for crimes including murder, rape, armed robbery and other offenses using firearms.

Source: Xinhua