
Tropical Storm Melissa has hit Haiti hard, causing the deaths of three people within 48 hours, according to Civil Protection. Two of the victims died in Fontamara, Port-au-Prince, during a landslide that occurred on Thursday, October 23, while another person was injured.
“Two people died and another was injured this Thursday in Fontamara,” Civil Protection confirmed, noting that heavy rains had weakened the slopes in the neighborhood. These fatalities add to a series of significant material damages recorded in several departments across the country.
In the Northeast, the flooding of the Saint-Martin River swept away a bridge in Sainte-Suzanne, cutting off several rural areas. In the Northwest, houses were destroyed or severely damaged in Port-de-Paix, where residents are still trying to salvage what they can.
In response to the ongoing threat, the Ministry of the Interior has strengthened the mobilization of emergency operations centers across the country. “The activation of the national EOC has been extended to the population assistance area,” the institution stated, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated response.
The Hydrometeorological Unit has maintained the orange alert level for several departments, including the West, Southeast, Nippes, and Grand’Anse. Authorities are urging the population to remain cautious, reminding everyone that the country remains vulnerable to further flooding and landslides in the hours to come.
