The escapees were said to have used a cloth rope to desend from the third floor of the building after dismantling an iron-grilled window at around 4 am.

Police, military and administration officials were mobilised and have since recaptured one of escapees with a broken leg, while others were likely to have fled across the Thai-Malaysian border.

Police sniffer dogs have been deployed in the border area within a 5km radius from the detention centre.

The Rohingya are victims of trafficking and were to be returned to their country of origin.

A similar incident happened two years ago.