Police in Brazil say noisy New Year's celebrations provided cover for two jail breaks, allowing more than a hundred prisoners to escape in two separate incidents.

In Sao Paulo, a police spokesman said armed men surprised police guarding a prison in the south of the city by using the noise from fireworks shortly after midnight to mask their gunshots.

Sixty-three prisoners escaped.

Another forty-three inmates escaped in similar circumstances in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

Correspondents say the holiday season in Brazil is notorious for prisoner revolts and escape attempts.