ADDIS ABABA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A prison break attempt in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region has left four inmates and one guard dead, local officials said Monday.

In a press statement, the communication office of the West Gonder zone in the Amhara region said the attempted jailbreak happened Sunday evening when an armed gang threw grenades inside the prison in the zone's Alefa district.

The statement said 20 people were injured in the incident and that four inmates managed to escape.

Authorities are trying to capture the escapees and those behind the jailbreak attempt, the statement said.