About 300 inmates escaped from a women's prison in the northern coastal city of Iquique after the prison's power supply went down when Tuesday's tsunami hit.

About 16 of the women were soon recaptured after the military sent a plane load of special forces to the area, the country's investigative police said.

"We have taken various public-safety measures due to the mass escape of over 300 female inmates at the prison in Iquique," said Chilean Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo.

"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."

Most of the inmates held in prisons in the Iquique area are guilty of drug trafficking, according to Chilean media.

Reuters-AP