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Hurricane Matthew: one dead as violent storm hits Haiti Hurricane Matthew: one dead as violent storm makes landfall in Haiti
(35 minutes later)
Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, ripped into Haiti’s southwestern peninsula early on Tuesday, packing 145 mph winds and storm surges that killed at least one person and damaged homes. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, ripped into Haiti’s south-western peninsula early on Tuesday, bringing 145 mph winds and storm surges that killed at least one person and damaged homes.
The eye of the violent Category 4 storm came within 35 miles off the western tip of Haiti, the US hurricane centre said, pounding coastal villages with strong gusts. The eye of the violent category 4 storm came within 35 miles of the western tip of Haiti, the US hurricane centre said, pounding coastal villages with strong gusts.
One man died when a wave crashed through his home in the beach town of Port Salut, Haiti’s civil protection service said. He had been too sick to leave for a shelter, officials said. One man died when a wave crashed through his home in the beach town of Port Salut, Haiti’s civil protection service said. He had been too sick to leave for a shelter, according to officials.
Overnight, Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks on the Tiburon peninsula had frantically sought shelter as Matthew closed in, bringing heavy rain and driving the ocean into seaside towns. Poor Haitians are often loath to leave home in the face of storms, fearing their few belongings will be stolen.Overnight, Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks on the Tiburon peninsula had frantically sought shelter as Matthew closed in, bringing heavy rain and driving the ocean into seaside towns. Poor Haitians are often loath to leave home in the face of storms, fearing their few belongings will be stolen.
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.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.
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.
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.
The storm is expected to make a direct hit on Cuba 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 on Cuba 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.“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.
The outer bands of the cyclone reached Haiti 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 cyclone reached Haiti 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.
“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. 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, said: “This is the most vulnerable suburb in the area. We know that the hurricane is coming.”
“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 volunteer, who gave only his first name, said: “If things are bad then we will come together.” 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 would 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.
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.