In a shocking escalation of violence, armed Haiti gangs stormed the country's main prison, resulting in a mass jailbreak where thousands of inmates fled.

The incident unfolded overnight and added a new layer of turmoil to the already precarious situation in the capital.

At least five people lost their lives in the wake of the Haiti violence, according to AP News

The mass jailbreak signifies a distressing turn in the nation's escalating violence, with Haiti gangs intensifying coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince.

This grim development occurred while Prime Minister Ariel Henry sought international support for a United Nations-backed security force to stabilize the country.

Prime Minister Henry is currently abroad, addressing the urgent need for assistance amid a surge in Haiti violence.

READ NEXT: Haiti, Kenya Sign Agreement 

A Bloody Mass Jailbreak

The disturbing aftermath of the prison break paints a grim picture.

At the prison entrance, three lifeless bodies with gunshot wounds lay, and the facility, usually overcrowded, appeared eerily empty.

The majority of the approximately 4,000 detainees have now escaped, including members of Haiti gangs implicated in the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Haiti, already grappling with dire circumstances as the poorest country in the Americas, has seen a worsening of violence in recent years.

Haiti gangs, vying for control and seeking the ousting of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, currently command 80% of Port-au-Prince.

The recent surge in Haiti violence commenced on Thursday when the prime minister left for Nairobi to discuss the deployment of a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti.

Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as "Barbecue," declared a coordinated attack to remove the prime minister.

This alliance of armed Haiti gangs, spanning provincial towns and the capital, poses a severe threat.

Shootings erupted, claiming the lives of four police officers, and the French embassy in Haiti issued travel advisories for the capital.

The penitentiary, designed to accommodate 700 prisoners, held an alarming 3,687 inmates as of February last year, leading to serious overcrowding concerns, as reported by the rights group RNDDH.

The prison has been plagued by poor staffing and challenging conditions, contributing to the vulnerability exposed during the recent attack, Aljazeera noted.

Amid the chaos, there were reports of armed men attempting to seize control of the capital's main container port, causing disruptions.

Haiti gangs issued threats to attack additional police stations, heightening fears of further violence and instability.

As the situation in Haiti continues to spiral into an abyss of violence and uncertainty, international attention and assistance are urgently required to address the multifaceted challenges facing the beleaguered nation.

Political Turmoil and Unmet Agreements

As the political landscape remains tumultuous, the situation has been exacerbated by the failure to conduct elections and President Moïse's assassination, BBC reports.

Under a political deal, elections were scheduled, and Prime Minister Henry was expected to step down by February 7, a commitment that has not materialized.

The lack of leadership and unresolved political issues have fueled an environment conducive to escalating Haiti's violence.

A United Nations report from January revealed a staggering toll of more than 8,400 victims of Haiti gangs in the country in the previous year alone, including killings, injuries, and kidnappings-more than double the figures reported in 2022.

READ MORE: Russia Spreading Disinformation 

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Inmates flee after armed gangs storm Haiti's main prison - From Associated Press