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Hurricane Matthew: Haitians flee inland as violent storm approaches Hurricane Matthew: Haitians flee inland as violent storm approaches
(35 minutes later)
Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks frantically sought shelter as the strongest Caribbean storm in nine years, Hurricane Matthew, closed in on the south-western peninsula, sending storm surges, wind and rain into seaside towns.Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks frantically sought shelter as the strongest Caribbean storm in nine years, Hurricane Matthew, closed in on the south-western peninsula, sending storm surges, wind and rain into seaside towns.
Matthew, a violent Category 4 storm with 145 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds, was due to pound the western tip of Haiti early on Tuesday, the US National Hurricane Centre said. Matthew, a violent Category 4 storm with 145 mile-per-hour (230 km/h) winds, was due to pound the western tip of Haiti early on Tuesday, the US National Hurricane Centre said.
In an advisory message sent at 2am EDT (6am GMT) on Tuesday, the centre said that “life-threatening rain, wind and storm surges” had begun to spread over portions of the country. In an advisory message sent at 2am EDT (6am GMT) on Tuesday, the centre said “life-threatening rain, wind and storm surges” had begun to spread over portions of the country.
The outer bands of the cyclone had already reached the area late on Monday, flooding dozens of houses in the town of Les Anglais when the ocean rose, the local mayor said. In the town of Les Cayes on the southern coast, the wind bent trees and the power went out. The outer bands of the cyclonereached the area late on Monday, flooding dozens of houses in the town of Les Anglais when the ocean rose, the local mayor said. In the town of Les Cayes on the southern coast, the wind bent trees and the power went out.
“We have gusts of wind hitting the whole area and the people have fled to a shelter,” said the Les Anglais mayor, Jean-Claude Despierre. In Tiburon, another town nearby, the mayor said people who had been reluctant to leave their homes also fled when the sea rose.“We have gusts of wind hitting the whole area and the people have fled to a shelter,” said the Les Anglais mayor, Jean-Claude Despierre. In Tiburon, another town nearby, the mayor said people who had been reluctant to leave their homes also fled when the sea rose.
“Everyone is trying to find a safe place to protect themselves, the situation is very difficult,” the mayor, Remiza Denize, said, describing large waves hitting the town.“Everyone is trying to find a safe place to protect themselves, the situation is very difficult,” the mayor, Remiza Denize, said, describing large waves hitting the town.
The storm is forecast to spread hurricane force winds and up to three feet of rain across hills where trees have been cut down increasing the likelihood of flash floods and mudslides, threatening villages as well as shanty towns in the capital Port-au-Prince. The storm is forecast to spread hurricane-force winds and up to 3ft of rain across hills where trees have been cut down, increasing the likelihood of flash floods and mudslides, threatening villages as well as shanty towns in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“This is the most vulnerable suburb in the area. Here people are going about organising things, we know that the hurricane is coming,” said Afou, a volunteer at a children’s home made of tin sheeting on the rubbish-strewn seashore of the Cite Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince. “This is the most vulnerable suburb in the area. Here people are going about organising things. We know that the hurricane is coming,” said Afou, a volunteer at a children’s home made of tin sheeting on the rubbish-strewn seashore of the Cite Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince.
“If things are bad then we will come together,” said Afou, who only gave his first name. Later, civil protection authorities said 130 children were evacuated by bus from another orphanage in the slum to a high school in the capital. “If things are bad then we will come together,” said Afou, who gave only his first name. Later, civil protection authorities said 130 children were evacuated by bus from another orphanage in the slum to a high school in the capital.
The mayor of Cite Soleil, Frederic Hislain, said 150,000 people whose homes were threatened needed to be moved to safer places, but accepted that many would not want to leave, fearing their few belongings will be stolen. The mayor of Cite Soleil, Frederic Hislain, said 150,000 people whose homes were threatened needed to be moved to safer places, but accepted that many would not want to leave, fearing their few belongings would be stolen.
The cyclone comes at a bad time for Haiti, where tens of thousands of people still live in tents after a 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000. Cholera, introduced by UN peacekeepers, is expected to rise in the October rainy season, and the country is due to hold a long-delayed presidential election on 9 October.The cyclone comes at a bad time for Haiti, where tens of thousands of people still live in tents after a 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000. Cholera, introduced by UN peacekeepers, is expected to rise in the October rainy season, and the country is due to hold a long-delayed presidential election on 9 October.
The office of the interim president, Jocelerme Privert, said there was no change to the election date.The office of the interim president, Jocelerme Privert, said there was no change to the election date.
On the north coast, 300 detainees were transferred from their prison near the sea in the town of Jeremie, the interior ministry said.On the north coast, 300 detainees were transferred from their prison near the sea in the town of Jeremie, the interior ministry said.
Matthew is forecast to sweep over Cuba to the Bahamas on Tuesday and possibly reach Florida by Thursday as a major hurricane, though weaker than at present. Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Florida on Monday, designating resources for evacuations and shelters and putting the National Guard on standby.Matthew is forecast to sweep over Cuba to the Bahamas on Tuesday and possibly reach Florida by Thursday as a major hurricane, though weaker than at present. Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Florida on Monday, designating resources for evacuations and shelters and putting the National Guard on standby.
Matthew, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history, was about 60 miles south of Haiti’s western tip at 2am EDT on Tuesday, the US hurricane centre said.Matthew, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history, was about 60 miles south of Haiti’s western tip at 2am EDT on Tuesday, the US hurricane centre said.
Crawling north at about 8 miles an hour, the storm threatens to linger long enough for its winds and rain to cause great damage. Crawling north at about eight miles an hour, the storm threatens to linger long enough for its winds and rain to cause great damage.
In Les Cayes about 150 people huddled without electricity or food in the town’s largest shelter, a school. In Les Cayes. about 150 people huddled without electricity or food in the town’s largest shelter, a school.
“There is no food,” said Erick Cange, a 69-year-old resident of the La Savanne neighbourhood surrounding the school. “Since yesterday we’ve had nothing ... We must sleep on the floor ... Everyone is hungry.”“There is no food,” said Erick Cange, a 69-year-old resident of the La Savanne neighbourhood surrounding the school. “Since yesterday we’ve had nothing ... We must sleep on the floor ... Everyone is hungry.”
The conditions in the shelter compared unfavourably with Haiti’s neighbour Cuba, where authorities spent days organising teams of volunteers to move residents to safety and secure property.The conditions in the shelter compared unfavourably with Haiti’s neighbour Cuba, where authorities spent days organising teams of volunteers to move residents to safety and secure property.
The storm is expected to make a direct hit later on Tuesday in the province of Guantánamo, the disputed home to the US naval base and military prison but also a small Cuban city.The storm is expected to make a direct hit later on Tuesday in the province of Guantánamo, the disputed home to the US naval base and military prison but also a small Cuban city.
“We are receiving people living in villages prone to flooding,” said Alexis Iglesias, head of the evacuation committee at Guantánamo University which was being used as a shelter.“We are receiving people living in villages prone to flooding,” said Alexis Iglesias, head of the evacuation committee at Guantánamo University which was being used as a shelter.
“Food is guaranteed and we have a generator that will guarantee that the kitchen keeps on working in case of a power cut,” he said. Some 400 people were staying at the shelter. “Food is guaranteed and we have a generator that will guarantee that the kitchen keeps on working in case of a power cut,” he said. Four hundred people were staying at the shelter.
The US Agency for International Development said on Monday it was providing a combined $400,000 in aid to Haiti and Jamaica. The agency said in a statement it had put relief supplies into position and was preparing to ship in additional items to the central Caribbean.The US Agency for International Development said on Monday it was providing a combined $400,000 in aid to Haiti and Jamaica. The agency said in a statement it had put relief supplies into position and was preparing to ship in additional items to the central Caribbean.