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| Hurricane Matthew: Category Four storm pounds Haiti | Hurricane Matthew: Category Four storm pounds Haiti |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in nearly a decade has hit Haiti, bringing 230km/h (145mph) winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges. | The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in nearly a decade has hit Haiti, bringing 230km/h (145mph) winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges. |
| Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, has led to a number of deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. | Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, has led to a number of deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. |
| Southern Haiti has effectively been cut off after the bridge linking it to the capital, Port-au-Prince, collapsed. | Southern Haiti has effectively been cut off after the bridge linking it to the capital, Port-au-Prince, collapsed. |
| The UN said the country was facing the "largest humanitarian event" since a huge earthquake in 2010. | The UN said the country was facing the "largest humanitarian event" since a huge earthquake in 2010. |
| At least 10,000 people were in shelters and there were reports of overcrowded hospitals suffering shortages of fresh water, Mourad Wahba, the UN special representative for Haiti, said. | At least 10,000 people were in shelters and there were reports of overcrowded hospitals suffering shortages of fresh water, Mourad Wahba, the UN special representative for Haiti, said. |
| More than 4m children could be exposed to hurricane damage, Unicef said, warning of the spread of waterborne disease. | More than 4m children could be exposed to hurricane damage, Unicef said, warning of the spread of waterborne disease. |
| Southern Haiti 'cut off' | Southern Haiti 'cut off' |
| The deputy mayor of the southern coastal town of Les Cayes described the scene there as "catastrophic". | The deputy mayor of the southern coastal town of Les Cayes described the scene there as "catastrophic". |
| Deputy Mayor Marie Claudette Regis Delerme said the city of 70,000 people was flooded and many houses had lost roofs. She herself had to flee a meeting when a gust ripped off the building's roof. | Deputy Mayor Marie Claudette Regis Delerme said the city of 70,000 people was flooded and many houses had lost roofs. She herself had to flee a meeting when a gust ripped off the building's roof. |
| Images from Les Cayes showed people walking in shoulder-high water, with relief workers saying that other coastal communities were also under water, including Les Anglais. | |
| Fonie Pierre, director of Catholic Relief Services for Les Cayes, told AP: "Many people are now asking for help, but it's too late because there is no way to go evacuate them." | Fonie Pierre, director of Catholic Relief Services for Les Cayes, told AP: "Many people are now asking for help, but it's too late because there is no way to go evacuate them." |
| The mayor of Les Cayes, Jean Gabriel Fortune, posted tweets that included video showing damage in the Vernet area. | The mayor of Les Cayes, Jean Gabriel Fortune, posted tweets that included video showing damage in the Vernet area. |
| Officials said they were trying to restore access to Haiti's southern peninsula after the collapse of the La Digue bridge but admitted it would be difficult to find an alternative route. | Officials said they were trying to restore access to Haiti's southern peninsula after the collapse of the La Digue bridge but admitted it would be difficult to find an alternative route. |
| A number of people were reported to have died in Haiti - one of the world's poorest countries with many residents living in flimsy housing in flood-prone areas - and the Dominican Republic. | A number of people were reported to have died in Haiti - one of the world's poorest countries with many residents living in flimsy housing in flood-prone areas - and the Dominican Republic. |
| One man too ill to leave his home was killed when waves struck in the town of Port Salut. | One man too ill to leave his home was killed when waves struck in the town of Port Salut. |
| Haiti's Interim President Jocelerme Privert said earlier that some people at sea or who had not "respected alerts" had died, but he gave no more details. | Haiti's Interim President Jocelerme Privert said earlier that some people at sea or who had not "respected alerts" had died, but he gave no more details. |
| Four people died after mudslides and wall collapses in neighbouring Dominican Republic. | Four people died after mudslides and wall collapses in neighbouring Dominican Republic. |
| Little protection: Nick Bryant, BBC News, Fonds-Parisien, Haiti | Little protection: Nick Bryant, BBC News, Fonds-Parisien, Haiti |
| Haiti has been taking a brutal pounding. The conditions here are atrocious - to step outside is to be drenched within seconds. | Haiti has been taking a brutal pounding. The conditions here are atrocious - to step outside is to be drenched within seconds. |
| Most vulnerable have been those who inhabit the shacks along the western coastline. There, storm surges are the main danger. | Most vulnerable have been those who inhabit the shacks along the western coastline. There, storm surges are the main danger. |
| People here are confronting life-threatening flooding and the likelihood of mudslides in a landscape denuded of trees. | People here are confronting life-threatening flooding and the likelihood of mudslides in a landscape denuded of trees. |
| This Category Four storm comes as this impoverished country is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake which killed more than 200,000 people, and a cholera epidemic that followed. | This Category Four storm comes as this impoverished country is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake which killed more than 200,000 people, and a cholera epidemic that followed. |
| Many live in shanty towns that offer little protection from the high winds and rains. And many refused to evacuate, fearing that what few possessions they have left would be stolen. | Many live in shanty towns that offer little protection from the high winds and rains. And many refused to evacuate, fearing that what few possessions they have left would be stolen. |
| Guantanamo evacuated | Guantanamo evacuated |
| A hurricane alert was in place for six eastern Cuban provinces, with residents moved from low-lying areas. | A hurricane alert was in place for six eastern Cuban provinces, with residents moved from low-lying areas. |
| Six-metre waves were reported on the seafront in the eastern town of Baracoa but state media said there were no immediate reports of serious damage. | Six-metre waves were reported on the seafront in the eastern town of Baracoa but state media said there were no immediate reports of serious damage. |
| Some 700 spouses and children of US service members were flown out of the Guantanamo Bay base. | Some 700 spouses and children of US service members were flown out of the Guantanamo Bay base. |
| It is also predicted to hit the US east coast later in the week. Florida, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina have declared states of emergency. | It is also predicted to hit the US east coast later in the week. Florida, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina have declared states of emergency. |
| South Carolina would start evacuating more than a million people from its coastline on Wednesday, Governor Nikki Haley said. | South Carolina would start evacuating more than a million people from its coastline on Wednesday, Governor Nikki Haley said. |
| Hurricane Matthew is the region's most powerful since Felix in 2007. | Hurricane Matthew is the region's most powerful since Felix in 2007. |
| Hurricane scales | Hurricane scales |
| Category one: sustained winds of 74-95mph (119-153 km/h); some damage and power cuts | Category one: sustained winds of 74-95mph (119-153 km/h); some damage and power cuts |
| Category two: winds of 96-110mph (154-177 km/h); extensive damage | Category two: winds of 96-110mph (154-177 km/h); extensive damage |
| Category three: winds of 111-129mph (178-208 km/h); well-built homes suffer major damage | Category three: winds of 111-129mph (178-208 km/h); well-built homes suffer major damage |
| Category four: winds of 130-156mph (209-251 km/h); severe damage to well-built homes, most trees snapped or uprooted | Category four: winds of 130-156mph (209-251 km/h); severe damage to well-built homes, most trees snapped or uprooted |
| Category five: winds of 157 mph (252 km/h) or higher; high percentage of homes destroyed, area uninhabitable for weeks or months | Category five: winds of 157 mph (252 km/h) or higher; high percentage of homes destroyed, area uninhabitable for weeks or months |
| Source: NOAA | Source: NOAA |
| Have you been affected by Hurricane Matthew? Only if it safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by Hurricane Matthew? Only if it safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Please stay safe. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Please stay safe. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |