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| Hurricane Matthew: Category Four storm pounds Haiti | Hurricane Matthew: Category Four storm pounds Haiti |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in nearly a decade has hit Haiti, bringing 145mph (230km/h) winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges. | The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in nearly a decade has hit Haiti, bringing 145mph (230km/h) winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges. |
| Hurricane Matthew, a Category Four storm, made landfall at about 11:00 GMT and is heading towards eastern Cuba. | |
| The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Haiti was "getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them". | The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Haiti was "getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them". |
| Reports from the southern coast spoke of communities under water and buildings stripped of roofs. | Reports from the southern coast spoke of communities under water and buildings stripped of roofs. |
| Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of the country's Civil Protection Agency, told Associated Press: "It's much too early to know how bad things are but we do know there are a lot of houses that have been destroyed or damaged in the south." | Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of the country's Civil Protection Agency, told Associated Press: "It's much too early to know how bad things are but we do know there are a lot of houses that have been destroyed or damaged in the south." |
| One resident too ill to leave their home was killed when waves struck in the town of Port Salut. | One resident too ill to leave their 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. |
| Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and many of its 11 million residents live in areas prone to flooding and in flimsy housing. Matthew is expected to bring up to 40in (102cm) of rain to some parts as it moves north at about 15km/h. | Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and many of its 11 million residents live in areas prone to flooding and in flimsy housing. Matthew is expected to bring up to 40in (102cm) of rain to some parts as it moves north at about 15km/h. |
| Social media footage from the southern coastal town of Les Cayes showed palm trees being bent sideways and buildings with roofs sheared off. | Social media footage from the southern coastal town of Les Cayes showed palm trees being bent sideways and buildings with roofs sheared off. |
| American journalist Jacqueline Charles told the BBC from the capital, Port-au-Prince, that reports from Les Cayes spoke of people walking in water shoulder high, with relief workers saying that other coastal communities were also under water. | American journalist Jacqueline Charles told the BBC from the capital, Port-au-Prince, that reports from Les Cayes spoke of people walking in water shoulder high, with relief workers saying that other coastal communities were also under water. |
| 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. |
| Nick Bryant, BBC News, Jimani border crossing, Haiti | Nick Bryant, BBC News, Jimani border crossing, 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. |
| The mayor of Tiburon, Remiza Denize, spoke of large waves hitting the town: "Everyone is trying to find a safe place to protect themselves." | The mayor of Tiburon, Remiza Denize, spoke of large waves hitting the town: "Everyone is trying to find a safe place to protect themselves." |
| Ms Jean-Baptiste said that there had been a major landslide between Les Cayes and Tiburon. | Ms Jean-Baptiste said that there had been a major landslide between Les Cayes and Tiburon. |
| A farmer in the town of Leogane, Milriste Nelson, said: "All the banana trees, all the mangoes, everything is gone." | |
| Guantanamo Bay evacuation | Guantanamo Bay evacuation |
| 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. |
| One local in Port-au-Prince said the community would unite in the face of the storm's danger. | One local in Port-au-Prince 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." |
| Unicef said more than four million children might be exposed to hurricane damage. | Unicef said more than four million children might be exposed to hurricane damage. |
| The UN children's fund representative in Haiti, Marc Vincent, said: "Waterborne diseases are the first threat to children in similar situations - our first priority is to make sure children have enough safe water." | The UN children's fund representative in Haiti, Marc Vincent, said: "Waterborne diseases are the first threat to children in similar situations - our first priority is to make sure children have enough safe water." |
| An NHC statement said: "On the forecast track, the eye of Matthew will move near eastern Cuba later [on Tuesday], and move near or over portions of the south-eastern and central Bahamas [on Tuesday night] and Wednesday, and approach the north-western Bahamas on Wednesday night." | An NHC statement said: "On the forecast track, the eye of Matthew will move near eastern Cuba later [on Tuesday], and move near or over portions of the south-eastern and central Bahamas [on Tuesday night] and Wednesday, and approach the north-western Bahamas on Wednesday night." |
| 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. |
| A hurricane alert is in place for six eastern Cuban provinces and residents are being moved from low-lying areas. | A hurricane alert is in place for six eastern Cuban 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. | 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 |