The Caribbean nation of Haiti is rapidly descending into lawless anarchy following the escape of over 3,500 inmates from the country’s largest prison in Port-au-Prince.

The Haitian Ministry of Communication said on Sunday that police were “not able to stop criminals from freeing a large number of prisoners” and that the violence left several inmates and prison staff injured.

Gangs, led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, control over 80% of the capital. They recently attacked the National Palace and set the Interior Ministry on fire with petrol bombs.

It follows an attack on the international airport and calls from gang members for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. He is currently stranded in Puerto Rico and unable to provide leadership to Haiti after criminals prevented his plane from landing.

There is widespread disarray in the capital. With murder, looting, kidnapping, reports of sexual violence in the streets, and bodies decomposing in the Caribbean heat, the collapse of civil order is near complete.

The US military have managed to enter Port-Au-Prince to airlift essential personnel to safety. EU and German diplomats have followed suit, fleeing what is fast becoming the country’s worst humanitarian disaster since the 2010 earthquake.

Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier said he would continue his efforts to depose Prime Minister Ariel Henry.