ARCAHAIE, Haiti (Reuters) - Most inmates of a northern Haitian prison escaped on Saturday after killing a guard and stealing firearms, said authorities who launched a manhunt with support from U.N. peacekeepers for the 174 fugitives.

Police set up checkpoints on roads leading from the prison and detained several people without identity cards, a Reuters witness said. However, the 266 inmates of Arcahaie prison do not wear uniforms, making it easier for escapees to mingle outside.

Eleven inmates were caught during the break, which happened during a period when some were bathing, officials said. The inmates broke into an area used by the guards, stealing at least five rifles among other weapons. One guard was shot dead.

Haiti’s Minister Of Justice, Camille Edouard Junior, said one prisoner died after falling off a wall and hitting his head during the escape from the Arcahaie prison on the coast north of capital Port-au-Prince.

“One guard was killed during the incident,” Edouard Junior told Reuters. “Three prisoner were wounded, including one who died as a consequence of his wounds.”

In the aftermath of the escape, the guard’s bloodied body lay at the prison and discarded sandals were scattered on the ground.

The U.S. embassy in Haiti issued a security message about “a violent prison break in Arcahaie,” and advised its citizens to avoid the area.</s>Dozens of inmates broke out of a northern Haitian prison on Saturday after killing a guard and stealing firearms, authorities said, as they launched a manhunt with support from United Nations peacekeepers for the 174 fugitives.

Haiti’s Minister Of Justice, Camille Edouard Junior, said one prisoner died after falling off a wall and hitting his head during the escape from the Arcahaie prison in northern Haiti.

“One policeman was killed killing the incident,” the Minister told Reuters. “Three prisoner were wounded, including one who died as a consequence of his wounds.”</s>Police officers were searching cars and boats for escaped prisoners on Sunday after recapturing at least a dozen of the 174 inmates who overpowered guards and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, the prison’s director said.

The prison break occurred Saturday in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital.

The community is far from the southwest area that was slammed by Hurricane Matthew’s eye earlier this month.

One guard was reported killed and others were injured. An inmate reportedly died following a bad fall while trying to scale a prison wall.

The Associated Press said Haitian National Police officers set up numerous checkpoints along roads to search vehicles. Small boats in fishing towns around Arcahaie were also being checked.

Heurtelou Paul Colson, director of the Arcahaie Prison, said the lockup housed 266 inmates.

Justice Minister Camille Edward Junior told Haiti’s biggest newspaper, The Nouvelliste, that the alleged mastermind of the escape, convicted kidnapper Yvener Carelus, was among the men captured after the prison break.

“He planned the escape from the inside with a few accomplices,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said the interim government has given clear instructions to the justice minister to “take all necessary measures to remedy this unacceptable situation.”

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said Saturday that the escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

After the escape, the body of the dead corrections officer was sprawled on the ground and bullet holes marked the prison’s main door. Inside, the wrought iron cell doors had been thrown open and sandals and clothing were scattered about. Authorities held a prisoner who tried to flee.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions during the manhunt.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area.</s>ARCAHAIE, Haiti (AP) — More than 100 mostly barefoot inmates overpowered guards on Saturday and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, officials said.

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said the prison break occurred in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital. One guard was reported killed and others were injured.

The escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions as a manhunt intensified. It wasn’t clear if any of the inmates had been recaptured by Saturday evening.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area due to the escape.</s>ARCAHAIE, Haiti (AP) — Police officers were searching cars and boats for escaped prisoners on Sunday after recapturing at least a dozen of the 172 inmates who overpowered guards and escaped from a lockup in central Haiti, the prison’s director said.

The prison break occurred Saturday in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti’s capital. The community is far from the southwest area that was slammed by Hurricane Matthew’s eye earlier this month.

One guard was reported killed and others were injured. An inmate reportedly died following a bad fall while trying to scale a prison wall.

Haitian National Police officers set up numerous checkpoints along roads to search vehicles. Small boats in fishing towns around Arcahaie were also being checked.

Heurtelou Paul Colson, director of the Arcahaie Prison, said the lockup housed 266 inmates.

Justice Minister Camille Edward Junior told Haiti’s biggest newspaper, The Nouvelliste, that the alleged mastermind of the escape, convicted kidnapper Yvener Carelus, was among the men captured after the prison break.

“He planned the escape from the inside with a few accomplices,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said the interim government has given clear instructions to the justice minister to “take all necessary measures to remedy this unacceptable situation.”

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean said Saturday that the escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and some exchanged gunfire with police during the chaotic breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe, according to provincial authorities.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the escaped inmates in Arcahaie were convicted of serious crimes and how many were awaiting trial.

Police asked jittery residents of the coastal area to follow authorities’ instructions during the manhunt.

The U.S. Embassy advised all American citizens to avoid the area.

Associated Press photographer Dieu Nalio Chery reported from Arcahaie. AP writer David McFadden contributed from Port-au-Prince.</s>ARCAHAIE, Haiti — Officials say more than 100 mostly barefoot inmates have overpowered guards and escaped from a Haitian prison.

Judge Henry Claude Louis-Jean says Saturday's jailbreak occurred in Arcahaie, a coastal town about 30 miles north of Haiti's capital.

One guard was reported killed and others were injured. Authorities say the escapees stole an unknown number of weapons and exchanged gunfire with police during the breakout.

The inmates attacked after they were released from a crammed holding pen to bathe.

Haitian prisons are notoriously overcrowded and many inmates spend years in pre-trial detention.

Police are asking residents of the Arcahaie area to follow authorities' instructions as a manhunt intensifies.</s>The prison break occurred at a facility in Arcahaie on Saturday, said Inspector Garry Derosiers, the national police spokesman.

Of the more than 100 fugitives, a dozen have been captured, Derosiers said.

The uprising was led by "heavily armed individuals," according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office. It's unclear how the prisoners broke out or who the armed individuals were.

Teams from SWAT and the defense forces are searching for the inmates. Nearby residents have been urged to be cautious and cooperate with police.
At least 174 inmates escape in Arcahaie, Haiti, leaving one guard dead. Authorities seek the fugitives with support from UN peacekeepers.