At least 30 people were killed in a gang raid in the town of Kenscoff, near Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon told Reuters on Monday (August 24).

Kenscoff, a hillside town overlooking Port-au-Prince, has faced frequent gang attacks over the past several years. Rights groups have reported mass killings, rapes, arson and kidnappings, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.

Haitian rights group RNDDH estimated that 30 to 40 people were killed and 15 to 20 wounded in the overnight raid, which began around 10:30 p.m. local time (0230 GMT), but warned it was still difficult to determine a final toll.

Haiti's prime minister's office condemned the "heinous attack" on Monday, saying all security forces were on high alert and that reinforcements were being deployed.

Haiti's national police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Residents of Kenscoff told Reuters they felt abandoned by the state as relatives mourned victims whose bodies lay on the road covered with blood-stained white sheets.

Coriolan Kendy told Reuters his cousin was among those killed in the early hours of the morning.

"My family are victims," he said, standing beside his cousin's body. "People in Kenscoff are suffering and the government is to blame."

Orisme, who did not give his last name, told Reuters he hoped the prime minister would announce support for the town.

"We live in humiliation, and they do nothing for us," he said. "We cannot take it anymore."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AUGUST 24, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. RELATIVES OF VICTIMS CRYING, BODY COVERED WITH SHEET AND BLOOD ON GROUND

2. WOMEN CRYING

3. BODY ON GROUND COVERED WITH SHEET

4. BODY COVERED WITH SHEET AND BLOOD ON GROUND

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) KENSCOFF RESIDENT, ORISME (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"We live in humiliation. They have nothing for us (the government). They do nothing, nothing for us. The blood of the population does not stop flowing in Kenscoff. The prime minister has to say something for the people in Kenscoff now. We can not take it anymore."

6. BODY ON GROUND COVERED WITH SHEET

7. WOMAN CRYING

8. BODIES ON GROUND COVERED WITH SHEETS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) RELATIVE OF VICTIM, CORIOLAN KENDY, SAYING:

"Directly, it’s my cousin; our family is being victimized there, and we know exactly what is happening. People in Kenscoff are suffering, and it is the government's fault. Directly, the government knows what they (gangs) do there; the government knows that they (gangs) make us suffer. (The government) knows they (gangs) make everyone suffer; everyone suffers."

10. BODY ON GROUND COVERED WITH SHEET, PEOPLE CARRYING BODY ON STRETCHER

11. BODIES INSIDE VEHICLE

12. PEOPLE COVERING BODY WITH SHEET

13. POLICE OFFICERS AND PEOPLE AT THE ATTACK AREA