(NewsNation) — A North Carolina sheriff has told NewsNation all inmates and guards are safe after a takeover at a jail in the state’s east on Monday.

Inmates inside the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, around 120 miles east of Raleigh, overpowered correctional staff and took over parts of the compound for several hours.

The takeover began at 5 a.m. local time, prompting a swift response from local, state and federal authorities.

All 88 inmates and three guards are safe, with minor injuries reported.

“We received a call from the jail that the inmates had taken over the jail and that it was two correctional officers that had been held hostage,” Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin told “The Hill on NewsNation.”

“After long hours, we sent in SWAT, and some of the inmates were able to get out. We were able to get the correctional officers out, and I am relieved to report that the situation concluded safely with minimal injuries,” he added.

Ruffin said it was too early to understand how the takeover unfolded, with more information to be released from the jail staff in due course. He said deputies were on the scene within two minutes but were unable to bypass the locked doors.

“We honestly did not know what the situation was inside … as far as we know, as the correctional officers were going in to let the inmates out for today, they were bumrushed by the inmates and that’s where it all began,” he added

The Associated Press contributed to this report.