As many as 17 American Christian missionaries and their families, including children, were kidnapped on Saturday by gang members in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, U.S. media reported, Reuters reported.

The kidnapping happened after the missionaries left an orphanage in the Caribbean nation, the New York Times and CNN said.

The victims included 14 adults and three minors, CNN said, citing an unnamed source in Haiti's security forces.

The Times, citing local officials, said the missionaries were taken from a bus headed to the airport to drop off some members of the group before continuing to another destination in Haiti.

A surge in gang violence has displaced thousands and hampered economic activity in the poorest country in the Americas. Violence spiraled after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July and an earthquake in August which killed over 2,000 people.