Nearly 4,000 inmates escape from Haiti prison prompting a state of emergency

• Mass prison escape in Haiti.
• The country is under a state of emergency.
• Authorities take action after armed incursion.

An armed group stormed Haiti’s main prison, triggering a massive breakout.

Approximately 4,000 inmates escaped, according to The Associated Press.

The chaotic situation unfolded amidst a climate of rampant violence that has engulfed the Caribbean nation.

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The mass prison escape has plunged Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, into a spiral of chaos and conflicts.

The incident, which left five dead on Sunday, represents a new low point in the escalating violence that has plagued Haiti in recent years.

Gangs have increased their control over the capital, while Prime Minister Ariel Henry seeks international support to stabilize the country, which is currently overwhelmed by crisis.

The escape has plunged Haiti into a state of emergency, with Port-au-Prince witnessing an undeclared civil war.

Mass prison break in Haiti

According to The Sun, there had been days of deadly attacks by gangs, leaving a trail of destruction before the massive breakout.

On Sunday morning, lifeless bodies lay near the prison entrance, which was left open and unprotected, with no visible presence of guards.

In the prison’s empty courtyards, sandals, clothing and electric fans could be seen strewn about.

Meanwhile, in nearby neighborhoods, bound and bloodied men lay on the ground, victims of the rampant violence gripping the nation.

Chaos and conflict in Port-au-Prince

Reports of a similar breakout at another prison in Port-au-Prince, with around 1,400 inmates, added to the widespread chaos.

Additionally, armed gangs have attacked and vandalized the country’s main soccer stadium, holding an employee hostage for hours, according to The Associated Press.

Infrastructure has also been targeted, with internet outages and damage to fiber-optic cables further exacerbating the emergency situation in the country.

Haiti, plagued by over 200 armed gangs, has seen up to 80% of its capital fall under the control of these ruthless factions.

Haiti is under a state of emergency

The armed gangs spread terror and anarchy, subjecting citizens to violence, torture and sexual abuse.

Citizens, already accustomed to living in a state of chronic war, were shocked by the attack on the National Penitentiary.

In response to this unprecedented crisis, the Haitian government has declared a 72-hour state of emergency, according to The Sun.

This decision was made with the promise of apprehending those responsible for the massacre and restoring order to the streets.

The government response to the mass prison escape

Authorities have ordered security forces to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew imposed under the state of emergency.

The Biden administration has expressed deep concern over the situation and its potential repercussions to regional stability, noted The Sun.

The mass prison escape and the consequent state of emergency in Haiti are a grim reminder of the profound crisis facing the Caribbean country.

There, violence and chaos threaten to plunge the nation into an abyss of despair and suffering, according to The Associated Press.