Convicts cooly escape after prison riot in Brazil

54 inmates managed to escape after a riot at a youth detention center in Sao Paulo on Monday, Globo News reports.

The inmates at Fundacao Casa began rioting at around midday, and had soon taken some 29 members of staff hostage. According to Globo, the director of the unit was also taken hostage and was seriously injured.

Inmates burnt their mattresses while rioting, as shown in this video with aerial footage:

This video, released by the Estado News Agency, shows some inmates escaping:
 

Police were able to end the rioting by 5 p.m., and so far 17 of the escaped inmates have been recovered.

A number of violent prison riots in recent years have brought a lot of attention to issues at Brazilian prisons, including overcrowding and sanitary conditions. Fundacao Casa was recently forced to pay out money to underage inmates who suffered inhumane treatment.

More from our partner, Business InsiderANALYST: We've Been Waiting For This Moment Since The Financial Crisis

The Map Of The Busiest Flight Paths In The World Is Startling

REPORT: The 'London Whale' Trader Has Been Ratting Out JP Morgan For Months

The Sex Lives Of Top Chinese Officials

41 Years Ago, A Scientist Explained Why Elon Musk's Hyperloop Is Doomed

Help keep The World going strong!

The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.

Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.