New Orleans law enforcement are searching the city for eight inmates who escaped from a Louisiana jail on Friday morning, and authorities are advising the public to be alert. 

The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office said 10 inmates initially escaped earlier Friday, and the absences were noted at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time during a routine headcount, but two have since been arrested. Officials also originally said an 11th man had escaped, but later corrected the number, per CBS News.

At a news conference on Friday, Sheriff Susan Hutson said the inmates allegedly started yanking on a cell to pull it off track just before 12:30 a.m.

"They were able to break open a door," she said, according to NBC News. "They were still able to exit the jail about 1:01 a.m. after breaching a wall behind a toilet in the jail."

She said that video surveillance cameras showed them exiting through a door on the docks, scaling a wall and then running across the interstate highway. Officials also believe that the inmates had outside help.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said her agency was notified of the inmates disappearances at 10:30 a.m. local time, Fox News reported.

"This is an urgent and a serious situation," Kirkpatrick said during a news conference. "Please be mindful. We know or have asked for pictures of these escapees from the sheriff's office. … We do also want to make... I appeal to the public that if you see something, and you just think this is not right, don't hesitate. Call 911."

The eight remaining inmates have been identified as 42-year-old Jermaine Donald, 33-year-old Antoine Massey, 31-year-old Leo Tate, 27-year-old Lenton Vanburen, 27-year-old Derrick Groves, 24-year-old Dkenen Dennis, 21-year-old Gary Price, and 19-year-old Corey Boyd. 

Some of the men are wanted for crimes such as second-degree murder, domestic abuse and burglary, among others.

The two inmates who have been captured are 21-year-old Robert Moody, and 20-year-old Kendell Myles, who was found in New Orleans' French Quarters. 

“After a brief foot pursuit, [Myles] was apprehended on Royal Street,” Louisiana State Police said. “Troopers continue working with partners to locate the remaining escapees and ensure public safety.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.