At least 44 prisoners escaped from the San Humberto de Bagua Grande prison in Utcubamba province, in northwestern Peru early Saturday morning.

According to local daily "El Comercio," the flee occurred at 06:10 local time (1110 GMT). When two polices opened the prisoners' inside doors, they were suddenly ambushed by about 100 prisoners and threatened them with cold steels.

Early reports said that 25 prisoners had fled through the front door and were holding prison guards hostage.

Some witnesses said that some prisoners jumped into a river near the prison, while others escaped into forest to hide.

"El Comercio" said that there were neither shots nor injuries during the flee.

After the event, Public Ministry officials arrived at the prison for investigation, while the National Police began an operation to re-capture the convicts.

The prison, with the capacity of 60 prisoners, has more than 200 prisoners and 11 guarding polices.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2009)