At least 70 people were killed and 30 others injured in a deadly gang attack near Petite-Rivière in Artibonite region, Haiti, a human rights group said on Monday, significantly higher than earlier official estimates.
Residents and officials said the assualt began early Sunday in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into Monday, with armed gang members storming the area and setting homes on fire.
The Defenseurs Plus said the violence displaced around 6,000 people, while the United Nations estimated more than 2,000 residents fled their homes in the days following nearby attacks.
Initial police reports had put the death toll at 16, with a preliminary civil protection report stating 17 fatalities and 19 injured, mostly men. However, UN officials said estimates ranged between 10 and 80 deaths, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Authorities said the attack was allegedly carried out by members of the Gran Grif gang. An audio message circulating on social media, attributed to gang leader Luckson Elan, suggested the assault was in retaliation for attacks by a rival group.
The Artibonite region, considered a key agricultural hub, has witnessed some of the worst violence in Haiti, as gang activity spreads beyond the capital Port-au-Prince despite increased policing efforts.
Haiti’s National Police said they deployed armoured vehicles to the area, but access was hindered by roadblocks dug by attackers. Officials added that the gunmen had fled by the time security forces arrived, leaving behind burned homes and casualties.
Defenseurs Plus estimated that around 50 houses were torched during the нападение. Police said an operation was underway to track down the attackers.
According to recent UN data, nearly 20,000 people have been killed in Haiti since 2021, with violence escalating as heavily armed gangs clash with security forces and vigilante groups.
The latest assault marks another major massacre in the region. In October 2024, a similar attack in the nearby town of Pont-Sonde left more than 100 people dead.
More than 1.4 million people — about 12% of Haiti’s population — have been displaced due to ongoing gang violence, deepening the country’s humanitarian and economic crisis.