Information to our news centre is that the escapees are two Haitian men.

They were reportedly being held at Hotel Castle Maria on Tortola and were being guarded by a well-known security company contracted by the government.

BVI News understands that the detainees were able to escape custody by removing the air conditioning unit attached to their room and climbing through the gap.

The police were summoned and a manhunt is said to be underway. The incident is said to have happened before daybreak this morning.

This is at least the second time within the last month that Haitian detainees have escaped the custody of Immigration while being held at a quarantine facility.