Mexico manhunt for fugitive drug lord Joaquin Guzman

Security forces in Mexico are searching for one of the world's most powerful drug lords, Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, following his escape from a maximum-security jail on Saturday.

Helicopters were seen circling above the Altiplano prison 90km (55 miles) west of Mexico City. Flights from nearby Toluca airport were suspended.

Guzman fled through a 1.5km-long (1 mile) tunnel after 17 months in jail.

It is the second time Guzman has escaped from a top-security prison.

Master of escape

In 2001 he broke out from Puente Grande jail reportedly hidden in a laundry cart after bribing officials.

He was on the run for 13 years before being re-arrested in February 2014. The capture was seen as a coup for President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Joaquin Guzman was re-arrested in his home state of Sinaloa in February 2014

Inside job?

Dozens of prison guards are being questioned, including the warden of Altiplano prison, to find out how he could escape this time.

Video footage showed Guzman entering the shower area in his cell at 20:52 local time on Saturday (01:52 GMT Sunday), National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido said.

When he did not emerge, guards searching the cell found a hole in the shower area, and a tunnel leading to an outside building, Mr Rubido added.

The building where the tunnel ends is surrounded by fields

The tunnel, which measures 1.7m by 70cm would have allowed Guzman, who is known as El Chapo or Shorty, to comfortably walk upright.

It had ventilation and lights and guards also found a motorcycle which they believe was used to transport earth removed as the tunnel was dug.

Inside the building, officials found a bed and a kitchen, suggesting those who dug the tunnel could have spent days at a time there.

Neighbours told local media the building had been erected quickly by a group of workers within the past year

Inside the building, police found clothes and a stove

Altiplano penitentiary is a maximum security jail and houses a number of high-profile criminals

Local media quoted neighbours as saying that the building had been "built quickly" within the past year.

One neighbour told reporters that he had heard a helicopter overhead on Saturday night but it was not clear if it was used in Guzman's getaway or was part of the search launched by security forces.

Serious blow

Guzman's escape is a serious blow to President Pena Nieto, who called it "an affront to the state".

Shortly after Guzman's arrest last year, the president said that another escape would be "unforgiveable".

The president said he was confident that security forces "have the strength and determination to recapture this criminal".

President Pena Nieto said he was confident Guzman would be recaptured swiftly

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch offered help for his "swift recapture".

Following his arrest, US prosecutors said they would request Guzman's extradition to the United States, where he has been indicted on drug trafficking charges.

But after Mexican officials insisted they wanted to try him first, a formal extradition request was not filed.

Manhunt

Mr Rubido said roadblocks had been set up around the jail and the prison perimeter had been strengthened.

Border forces in Mexico's southern neighbour, Guatemala, have also been put on heightened alert.

Guatemalan border officials were shown pictures of Guzman as security at the border was stepped up

It was there that Guzman was captured in 1993.

The authorities are also focusing on his home state of Sinaloa, from where he ran the cartel of the same name.

While the Sinaloa cartel has lost ground to rival cartels in past years it continues to be one of the most powerful drug trafficking organisations in the world.

Guzman's personal fortune is estimated at $1bn (£640m).