A correctional officer who was taken hostage earlier this afternoon at the Kenora, Ont., jail has been released, according to the province's Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

The guard was taken to hospital, according to ministry spokesperson Greg Flood. No details were immediately provided about the guard's condition.

The hostage-taking, by inmates at the northwestern Ontario facility, happened Friday afternoon within the secure part of the jail.

The ministry said earlier it had deployed crisis-intervention teams and negotiators to the jail.

"We want to thank all the front line staff at the Kenora jail that worked to secure the release of the correctional officer," Flood said.

"We also want to thank local first responders that attended the facility to assist."