Over 100 Prison Inmates Escape Because Of Hurricane Irma

Over 100 high-risk inmates escaped a British Virgin Islands prison after it was partially destroyed by Hurricane Irma, according to a British junior minister Tuesday.

“We had a serious threat of a complete breakdown of law and order in the British Virgin Islands (BVI),” junior foreign minister Alan Duncan said to Parliament. “The prison was breached, over 100 very serious prisoners escaped.”

Between 100 and 120 inmates escaped the prison, reported Sky News. Royal Marines were sent to “protect the Governor and everything else about law and order.” He told the House of Commons there were 997 troops and 47 police officers in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). According to Duncan, 500,000 British nationals were in the hurricane’s path. Five people died and severe damage occurred on multiple islands.

Duncan did not say how many prisoners were captured or how many were still loose.

“We have maintained and kept law and order on the BVI, which at one point, could have dramatically threatened the already unfortunate plight of those who had been hit by the hurricane,” he said.

The Daily Telegraph reported British Cabinet notes leaked to the press said 40 prisoners were on the loose.

“We are working with St. Lucia and BVI authorities to secure the transfer to St. Lucia of 40 high-risk prisoners that have escaped in BVT,” the notes read.

Hurricane Irma was the most powerful storm on record to ever hit the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The U.K. government received criticism for its response to Hurricane Irma, with some U.K. citizens on islands saying they felt abandoned. Others said Dutch and French governments, who also have Caribbean territories, prepared more adequately for the storm.

“I think the scale of this hurricane is something quite unprecedented, but let me assure you, we are working hard now to bring relief to our own particular territories,” Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said to Sky News.

Briton Claudia Knight alleged a prison was blown open on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. She left Tortola before Hurricane Irma hit the island. Her marine engineer partner stayed behind. Knight claimed he was armed with a knife to combat potential looters.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson planned a trip to survey the Caribbean after family members of those stranded said their relatives were starving and alone.