The small opening allowed the inmates to reach the courtyard of the Ezeiza prison near Buenos Aires and then scale two gates to freedom.
The escapees had help from both inside and outside the facility, said the head of the Argentine prison system yesterday, who resigned over the matter.
The head of the prison has been suspended, along with 18 guards.
The inmates -- all of whom were serving sentences of at least 16 years -- included two Brazilians and a citizen of Paraguay.