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| Hurricane Matthew: Dangerous storm makes landfall in Haiti | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent years has reached Haiti, threatening western areas with high winds, rain and storm surges. | |
| Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, made landfall at the south-western tip at about 11:00 GMT. | |
| The US National Hurricane Center said Haiti was "getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them". | |
| Haiti's Interim President Jocelerme Privert said a number of people had been killed so far. | |
| "We've already seen deaths. People who were out at sea. There are people who are missing. They are people who didn't respect the alerts. They've lost their lives," he said. | "We've already seen deaths. People who were out at sea. There are people who are missing. They are people who didn't respect the alerts. They've lost their lives," he said. |
| Matthew could bring up to 40in (102cm) of rain and winds of 145mph (230km/h), potentially triggering mudslides and flash floods. | Matthew could bring up to 40in (102cm) of rain and winds of 145mph (230km/h), potentially triggering mudslides and flash floods. |
| Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and many residents live in wooden or corrugated steel shacks in areas prone to flooding. | |
| "Part of the problem in Haiti is it's quite mountainous and Matthew is a slow-moving hurricane so it could deliver large amounts of rain," John Cangialosi of the US National Hurricane Center told the BBC. | "Part of the problem in Haiti is it's quite mountainous and Matthew is a slow-moving hurricane so it could deliver large amounts of rain," John Cangialosi of the US National Hurricane Center told the BBC. |
| "Best advice for anyone in Haiti is hopefully get somewhere, the safest place you can be, to ride this out." | "Best advice for anyone in Haiti is hopefully get somewhere, the safest place you can be, to ride this out." |
| Authorities have urged people to stock up on food and water and secure their homes. Thousands are still living in tents following a huge earthquake in 2010. | Authorities have urged people to stock up on food and water and secure their homes. Thousands are still living in tents following a huge earthquake in 2010. |
| The mayor of Haiti's largest slum in the capital Port-au-Prince, Frederic Hislain, called on the government to evacuate some 150,000 people whose homes are threatened. | The mayor of Haiti's largest slum in the capital Port-au-Prince, Frederic Hislain, called on the government to evacuate some 150,000 people whose homes are threatened. |
| Haitian officials say that about 1,300 emergency shelters have been built, enough to accommodate 340,000 people. Both airports in Haiti are closed. | Haitian officials say that about 1,300 emergency shelters have been built, enough to accommodate 340,000 people. Both airports in Haiti are closed. |
| But some Haitians have refused to go to shelters, fearful of having their possessions stolen. | But some Haitians have refused to go to shelters, fearful of having their possessions stolen. |
| One local in Port-au-Prince, however, said the community would unite in the face of the storm's danger. | One local in Port-au-Prince, however, said the community would unite in the face of the storm's danger. |
| "We are communicating amongst ourselves thanks to our own means. We will tell the people how the situation is. If things are bad then we will come together." | "We are communicating amongst ourselves thanks to our own means. We will tell the people how the situation is. If things are bad then we will come together." |
| About 13,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas in neighbouring Dominican Republic, which is also expected to get battered by rains and winds, according to the country's civil defence chief. | About 13,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas in neighbouring Dominican Republic, which is also expected to get battered by rains and winds, according to the country's civil defence chief. |
| Heavy rain and winds have already hit parts of Jamaica, with floodwaters blocking roads in the capital Kingston. | Heavy rain and winds have already hit parts of Jamaica, with floodwaters blocking roads in the capital Kingston. |
| Matthew is later expected to reach eastern Cuba, where a hurricane alert is in place for six eastern provinces and residents are being moved from low-lying areas. | Matthew is later expected to reach eastern Cuba, where a hurricane alert is in place for six eastern provinces and residents are being moved from low-lying areas. |
| Some 700 spouses and children of US service members have been flown out of the Guantanamo Bay base, which is just 80km from where the storm could make landfall. | |
| It is also predicted to hit the US east coast later in the week. Florida 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 and parts of North Carolina have declared states of emergency. |
| 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 |