Over 300 female inmates escaped prison on Tuesday night, reportedly taking advantage of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the northern coast of Chile, officials said.

According to El Mundo newspaper, the penitentiary underwent an evacuation and once the prisoners escaped, they set fire to the site.

President Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday night before daybreak that while it was too early to fully assess the amount of damage the earthquake caused, she would begin taking precautions. She immediately declared a state of emergency in the region and a military plane with 100 anti-riot police was sent to accompany 300 soldiers. The emergency officials were deployed to prevent looting and to assist in finding the escaped prisoners.

By around 4:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET) around 39 inmates were recaptured in Iquique, a port city near the epicenter of the magnitude-8.2 quake, not far from the prison, according to the Associated Press. 

"We have taken various public safety measures due to the mass escape of over 300 female inmates at their prison in Iquique," said Chile's minister of interior, Rodrigo Peñailill. "Personnel from the armed forces are working in collaboration with police under the leadership of the government to offer security and peace of mind to the residents of Iquique." 

Local authorities explained that the prison is located in an area that is prone to flooding, admitting that this is one reason the situation may have gotten out of control. The majority of the inmates held in prisons in the area the earthquake hit are guilty of drug trafficking, according to Chilean press.