Haiti: Fire reported at the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince

Published at: 14/03/2024 02:01 PM

In Haiti, it is reported that the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, the largest prison in the country, is engulfed in flames in the midst of the violent situation that the nation is going through.

The few remaining inmates in the prison facility were evacuated after some 3,000 inmates fled earlier this month due to an attack by criminal groups.

Telesur reported that the reason for the fire is currently unknown, despite this, international bodies hold the armed gangs that have plunged the country into chaos responsible.

The images shared on the social network X show plumes of smoke above the National Penitentiary while firefighters fight the flames.

In context, since February 28, there has been an escalation of violence in Haiti after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced the holding of elections for August 2025 while he was due to leave power this year after a national agreement.

Mazo News Team