March 17, 2026
In Petit-Goâve, the death toll rose dramatically on October 29: “20 dead and 10 missing,” according to a statement from Emmanuel Pierre, Director General of Haiti’s Civil Protection, with “10 children” among the victims. The La Digue River, unleashed by Hurricane Melissa, “overflowed its banks and flooded part of the city,” causing collapses and significant loss of life.
Rescue operations, hampered by damaged infrastructure, have already transported “10 injured people to the hospital,” while searches remain ongoing for those missing. The bridge connecting Petit-Goâve to the southern peninsula is impassable, further isolating a population already weakened by the disaster.
Across Haiti, the situation remains critical: entire departments are under red alert, and mass evacuations are underway. The country is facing not only Melissa’s winds and rain but also the accumulated damage to its essential infrastructure, slowing the humanitarian response.
The town’s mayor, Jean Bertrand Subrème, admitted being “overwhelmed by the situation” and issued a clear plea: urgent aid is needed to save lives and prevent another rise in the water level. The death toll remains provisional, but the catastrophe is very real and demands immediate mobilization.
