March 17, 2026
The latest toll from Hurricane Melissa stands at 30 dead and around twenty missing across the country, according to figures released by the Office of Civil Protection (OCP). The commune of Petit-Goâve remains the epicenter of the tragedy, where most of the victims have been recorded.
In Jacmel, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the section of the “Route de l’Amitié” (National Road 4) near Bassin Caïman is impassable: the overflowing La Gosseline River has washed away a stretch already weakened by Cyclone Beryl. According to Mayor Loudie César, “this road has already cost the lives of several citizens,” and the slow pace of the company responsible for repairs is worsening the situation.
In the Belle-Anse district, Mayor Dénoil Anténor warns that the Morne Laser road has been cut off, completely isolating the area. In Marigot, the entrance to the town is “half collapsed,” Mayor René Dano warns, citing an imminent danger for trucks at risk of tipping into the sea.
The country, already weakened by political instability, gang control, and failing infrastructure, is facing yet another major crisis. Experts note that Haiti’s high vulnerability to flooding and landslides is due to deforestation, erosion, and insufficient evacuation routes.
