A wave of violence spread across Mozambique following the validation of the ruling party's victory in October's disputed election, resulting in the deaths of at least 89 people this week.

The death toll has risen to more than 200 since the unrest began on Oct. 21, according to data from Decide Platform, a local monitoring group, and local authorities. Rioters looted shops and torched police stations, while more than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a maximum security jail outside Maputo, the capital, police chief Bernardino Rafael said in a televised briefing Wednesday. About 33 people were killed during the prison breach, he said.