Two of nine escapees from a Victorian youth detention centre have been arrested after they were found walking through paddocks five kilometres from the prison.
Police apprehended the pair shortly after 6.30pm following an exhaustive search around the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre since 2.45pm on Wednesday.
About 30 youths were involved in a riot at the facility, with 15 initially escaping after accessing a staff security pass.
Eight have now been arrested and seven remain on the run in up to three other stolen cars.
"The incident is still live and incredibly fluid and we do not have security here to the level we would like," Superintendent Craig Gillard told reporters in Malmsbury on Wednesday night.
The youths originally stole a ute before abandoning it and stealing a series of other vehicles.
Police are now reviewing CCTV from a number of service stations where petrol was stolen to try to identify the escaped inmates.
Witnesses told Nine News a number tried to steal their car but left after noticing a young girl in the back seat.
"They jumped out of a ute with a number of iron bars and I thought we were in trouble so I hit the automatic lock," a man told Nine News on Wednesday.
Drivers were forced off the road as the youths drove erratically on the wrong side of a number of roads, with other road users forced to flee.
"We were driving in the opposite direction and they swerved onto the wrong side of the road, just as we were passing and forced us off the road," witness Sandra told ABC news.
It's believed a police car was rammed and two civilian cars also struck, as police pursued the youths.
Children's Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos has returned from leave and is being briefed about the escape.
