Two convicted killers are on the run after escaping from a maximum security jail in New York.

They used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border and escape through a manhole, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on June 6.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo described Richard Matt and David Sweat as “dangerous individuals”.

They cut through steel pipes at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora and fled through a man hole.

Andrew Cumo said the prison breakout was the first escape from the facility in 150 years.

Photo New York State Police

“It was an elaborate plot,” the governor added.

David Sweat, 34, was serving a life sentence without parole for the first degree murder of Broome County sheriff’s deputy.

Richard Matt, 48, was given a jail term of 25 years to life for the kidnapping and beating a man to death in 1997.

The two men’s adjoining cells were found to be empty during a morning check, said Anthony Annuci, the acting state corrections commissioner.

“A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped,” he added.

“They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots.”

Police are trying to determine how the men acquired the tools.

More than 200 officers are searching for the prisoners, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance.

Clinton Correctional Facility is about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Roadblocks have been set up in the area, according to local media.

David Sweat is described as a white male, 5ft 11in tall, with brown hair and green eyes. He weighs 165lb and has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.

Richard Matt is also white and is 6ft tall.

He has black hair and hazel eyes and weighs around 210lbs.

Richard Matt’s tattoos include “Mexico Forever” on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.