Penang police chief Shuhaily Zain said the escapees, who were all barefoot, are believed to be heading south towards Perak.

In a press conference today, he said those at large could be famished as they had been out since 4am and might be knocking on doors for food.

Watch the video here.

Shuhaily urged people who spot the escapees to persuade them to surrender to police or call 999.

He said three roadblocks had been mounted on the Penang side of the state border, while more were being put up in Kedah and Perak.

Earlier this morning, 528 Rohingya inmates fled a temporary immigration depot at Bandar Baharu, Kedah, at about 4.30am. There were 664 inmates at the centre at the time.

A total of 357 inmates were rounded up by police, including six who were killed when they were crossing a highway.

Shuhaily said among the escapees were children as young as a year old, while there were some who were elderly and appeared to be frail.

“Some of those who were caught told us that they had been waiting to be sent back.

“They said they were just following the others and did not know where they were headed,” he said at a press conference with Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow at Komtar here today.

Earlier, Kedah police chief Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said the breakout at the detention centre was likely caused by “tensions” between separate groups among the inmates. He did not elaborate further.

He said the case was being investigated under Sections 147 and 224 of the Penal Code for rioting and resisting arrest by the escapees, as well as Section 223 for negligence by officers in allowing the detainees to escape.

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