Haiti gang attack kills at least 70, far exceeding official counts

At least 70 people were killed and 30 injured during a gang attack in Haiti's Artibonite region, according to a human rights organization, figures substantially higher than initial official reports.

Police first announced 16 fatalities and 10 injuries following the incident. A preliminary report from civil protection authorities later estimated 17 dead and 19 wounded, mostly men. The Collective Defending Human Rights group, however, reported a death toll of at least 70, describing the incident as a "massacre."

The attack began in the early hours of Sunday in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into the early hours of Monday, according to residents and officials who spoke to local media. Gang members stormed the area and set homes on fire during the assault.

Nearly 6,000 residents were forced to flee their homes as a result of the violence, the Collective Defending Human Rights group said. The United Nations estimated that more than 2,000 people had left their homes in the days before the attack, following raids by armed gangs in nearby areas.

The Collective Defending Human Rights group criticized local authorities in a statement, saying "the lack of a security response and the abandonment of Artibonite to armed groups demonstrate a complete abdication of responsibility by the authorities."

A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack at a press briefing on Monday. The spokesperson noted that reported death toll estimates varied widely, ranging from 10 to 80 victims, and said the violence underscored the gravity of the security situation in the country. The UN called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Armed members of the Gran Grif gang were identified as those who carried out the attack on the Jean-Denis area.