At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital on Christmas Day following a rebellion, the country’s police chief said, as widespread post-election unrest and violence rock the country.

Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 inmates were killed and 15 injured during clashes with security forces.

Prisoners escaped during violent protests that destroyed police cars, stations and infrastructure after the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the October 9 election.

The escape from the central prison in Maputo, located 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the capital, began around noon on Wednesday after “agitation” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said.

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Some of the prisoners in the facility stole the weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees.

“It is an interesting fact that we had 29 convicted terrorists in that prison, who were released. We are concerned, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defense and security forces,” said Rafael.

“They (protesters) were making noise, asking to remove the prisoners who are serving their sentences there,” Rafael said, adding that the protests led to the demolition of the wall, which allowed the prisoners to escape.

He called on the escaped prisoners to surrender to the authorities and to inform the population about the escapees.

Videos circulating on social media show the moment inmates leave the prison, while other footage reveals footage taken by soldiers and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in homes, but some failed and ended up being detained again.

In one video, an inmate who still has handcuffs on his right wrist says he was held in the prison’s disciplinary section and released by other inmates.

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