Prisoners broke out of their Tanumalala Prison cells Tuesday morning, but have not breached the prison walls with more police officers on their way to the facility to secure the jail. 

Reports from inside the prison indicate that the convicts are out of their cells with the guards at the high security prison. 

The Minister of Police and Prisons, Faualo Harry Schuster confirmed being briefed about "something brewing at the prison” just after 11am Tuesday when contacted by the Samoa Observer. 

“The information I have is that the prisoners haven’t broke out but are outside of the cells," he said. “I would know more after when I get another updated report, more police officer from town are attending to the incident…”

Asked if there are any injuries, the Minister of Police said he was not aware of it. Close to 90 police officers were stationed at Tanumalala during the nationwide lockdown. 

A prison official said the prison cells are opened and the prisoners are on the field. It could not be confirmed how the prisoners managed to get out of their cells. 

The last mass prison break was in 2020 when 29 prisoners escaped the high security prison – at the time the prison was separate from the Samoa Prisons and Correction Services. 

That break out led to the Correction services being merged with the Ministry of Police to ensure there is security and enough manpower at the prison. 

• This is a developing story....