Prison officers also said none of the 1,000 or so prisoners escaped during or since the quake in which 266 people are confirmed dead and more than 2,000 injured.

More than 170 housing units collapsed or were damaged in Bachu County Prison and Kashi Prison, 50 and 70 kilometers respectively from the epicenter.

The Xinjiang Regional Department of Justice and the prisons administrations have added more than 100 extra police and guards since the earthquake.

Prison officers have set up tents for themselves and inmates, while wire netting was put up outside damaged prison walls.

The prisons invited local officials to brief the inmates about the aftermath of the quake and progress of relief work. They also sent law enforcement officers to visit the families of some inmates that were affected by the quake.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)