Mass Prison Break in Haiti Amid Surge of Gang Violence
Over 500 inmates escape from Mirebalais prison as armed gangs attack the city.
Officials in Haiti have confirmed that over 500 prisoners escaped from a facility in Mirebalais following a violent assault by heavily armed gangs.
The incident occurred from late Sunday into early Monday, resulting in a total of 529 inmates fleeing the prison during the chaos.
Frédéric Ocius, a local government representative, stated that the gangs attacked both the jail and the primary police station in Mirebalais, which is located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
Due to ongoing manpower shortages within the police force, officials reported that the police fled their posts, enabling the attackers to breach the prison.
The assault has resulted in extensive damage to the city, with numerous local residents reportedly killed amidst the violence.
Following the attack, military reinforcements were dispatched to the area in an effort to control the situation and repel the gangs.
As the violence escalated, many residents of Mirebalais fled to nearby towns in search of safety.
The public high school in the city was reportedly overrun by the assailants, complicating the already tense situation further.
Ocius warned of the potential for a complete loss of control over the city, stating, "We run the risk of losing command of the entire city."
Gunfire continues to erupt in Mirebalais as clashes between security forces and gangs persist, highlighting the increasingly precarious security conditions in Haiti.
This incident reflects the broader context of escalating violence throughout the country, exacerbated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. According to United Nations reports, more than 5,600 people were killed in Haiti in 2024 alone, marking a troubling trend of deteriorating rule of law as gangs increasingly assert control over various regions.
The incident occurred from late Sunday into early Monday, resulting in a total of 529 inmates fleeing the prison during the chaos.
Frédéric Ocius, a local government representative, stated that the gangs attacked both the jail and the primary police station in Mirebalais, which is located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
Due to ongoing manpower shortages within the police force, officials reported that the police fled their posts, enabling the attackers to breach the prison.
The assault has resulted in extensive damage to the city, with numerous local residents reportedly killed amidst the violence.
Following the attack, military reinforcements were dispatched to the area in an effort to control the situation and repel the gangs.
As the violence escalated, many residents of Mirebalais fled to nearby towns in search of safety.
The public high school in the city was reportedly overrun by the assailants, complicating the already tense situation further.
Ocius warned of the potential for a complete loss of control over the city, stating, "We run the risk of losing command of the entire city."
Gunfire continues to erupt in Mirebalais as clashes between security forces and gangs persist, highlighting the increasingly precarious security conditions in Haiti.
This incident reflects the broader context of escalating violence throughout the country, exacerbated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. According to United Nations reports, more than 5,600 people were killed in Haiti in 2024 alone, marking a troubling trend of deteriorating rule of law as gangs increasingly assert control over various regions.
