At least 70 people were killed and 30 injured during violent clashes in Haiti's Artibonite region, according to human rights groups, with casualty figures significantly higher than initial official reports.

The violence erupted early Sunday morning in the central Haitian town of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, located in what is known as Haiti's breadbasket region. The conflict involved warfare between a powerful gang and a vigilante group.

Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while a preliminary report from civil protection authorities suggested 17 had died and 19 were wounded. However, human rights organizations later provided substantially higher casualty counts.

The violence has forced nearly 6,000 people to flee their homes, according to human rights groups. The displaced residents were compelled to abandon the area as the conflict escalated throughout the region.

Human rights organizations have criticized what they describe as 'abandonment' by authorities in responding to the crisis. The Artibonite region, crucial for Haiti's agricultural production, has become another flashpoint in the country's ongoing security crisis.

The incident represents the latest escalation in Haiti's deteriorating security situation, where gang violence has increasingly displaced civilian populations and overwhelmed local authorities' capacity to maintain order.