ISABELA, April 10: Eight escapees were killed after at least 53 prisoners including about 20 suspected Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerillas broke out of jail in the southern Philippines on Saturday, officials said.

Nine of those who escaped were later recaptured while eight others were killed by pursuing forces, said city police chief Senior Inspector William Gadayan, adding that four of those slain were Abu Sayyaf members.

Police and military forces have been deployed to track down the remaining prisoners and have set up checkpoints on the island of Basilan to keep them from fleeing.

But officials expressed concern that many would get away if they are not found before sundown.

"If it becomes dark, it will be really tough," said local army commander Colonel Raymundo Ferrer, adding that if they reached the coastal areas and seized a boat, it would be difficult to locate them.

Provincial officials said someone smuggled a pistol into the jail which a prisoner used to seize guns from the guards to launch the breakout from the jail in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan.-AFP