Haiti – Further Flooding Leaves 10 Dead

Heavy rain from 05 November has caused rivers to overflow, landslides and flash flooding in at least 15 municipalities of Haiti. A report from the Government of Haiti of 06 November said that 10 people have died as a result.

The country is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew that struck on 04 October, 2016. A UN report of late October said that the hurricane had caused 546 deaths and left 438 injured. As of late October, 141,493 remained displaced. Damage caused by the hurricane has left the country’s population facing a rise in cholera cases as well as food shortages.

Over the weekend, the Centre for National Emergency Operations said that heavy rainfall and flooding has affected several neighbourhoods in Cap-Haitien, Nord Department, where 7 people have died, including a mother and her 3 children who died when their house collapsed. Some areas have seen flood water up to 140 cm deep, leaving houses damaged and inundated with mud and waste.

Some of the surrounding areas of Cap-Haitien have also been flooded, including Haut-Du-Cap, Quartier-Morin, Limonade.

Three other fatalities occurred in Jérémie, Grand’Anse department where two people were also seriously injured, Port-de-Paix, Nord-Ouest department and Perches, Nord-Est. Several rivers are overflowing, particularity in Nord Est department, causing flooding in nearby areas.

Rainfall figures are unavailable for Haiti for this period. Puerto Plata in neighbouring Dominican Republic recorded 105.1 mm of rain in 24 hours between 05 and 06 November.

The National Meteorological Centre said that further heavy rain was likely throughout the country. The Centre for National Emergency Operations warned that people living in areas at risk of flooding, landslides and landslide must remain vigilant.

Trinidad

Elsewhere in the Caribbean Region, heavy rain has caused some flooding in parts of Trinidad. Local media say that several homes were damaged by floodwater in Las Lomas and La Horquetta. As much as 85 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 06 and 07 November in Piarco.