Bands of gunmen attacked the prison simultaneously, opening fire on the guards from outside to divert their attention away from the escape.
One guard was killed and another wounded in the attack, said the security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Wednesday's escape was the latest sign that Yemen's months-long upheaval has emboldened al-Qaida militants to challenge authorities in the country's nearly lawless south.
