The Caribbean braces itself for Matthew
- 8 years ago
Haiti
Concern is mounting in Haiti as Hurricane Matthew edges closer to the Caribbean nation.
Traveling at seven kilometres an hour, the hurricane is bringing 230 kilometre-an-hour winds and heavy rain.
It is the strongest storm to menace the Caribbean since 2007.
The centre is expected to make landfall near southwestern Haiti and Jamaica late on Monday.
#Matthew 15-25” rain S. Haiti & SW Dominican. Republic – possible isolated 40”. 7-10' storm surge S coast of Haiti. https://t.co/T8bABTBWV8 pic.twitter.com/9BvRFWLzT9— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) October 3, 2016
Vulnerable
Haiti is vulnerable to disasters due to a combination of weak government and precarious living conditions.
More than 200,000 people were killed when a seven-magnitude earthquake struck in 2010.
The storm comes at a bad time for the country.
A long-delayed election is due to be held next Sunday.
La Savane
Hurricane Matthew fears grow in Haiti, some resist shelters https://t.co/X0hVzBCxTb— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2016
1,300 shelters have been set up with the capacity to hold 340,000 people.
Haitian officials say around 2,000 residents of the La Savane neighbourhood of Les Cayes are refusing to heed government calls to move out of their homes.
The power has reportedly gone off in the town.
The chief of police says it is impossible to force such a large number of people to leave their homes.
“I would have to arrest all those people and take them to a safe place, this is very difficult,” Luc Pierre told reporters.
The neighbourhood is just a few miles from where the centre of the hurricane is forecast to make landfall.
Some streets are already flooded in Les Cayes, a town of around 70,000 people.
Jamaica
Officials are scrambling to protect the vulnerable from the worst of the coming storm.
Residents have boarded windows and are stocking up on essentials in supermarkets.
Evacuation operations are underway.
Some have even taken refuge in a network of caves.
Matthew is around 415 kilometres southeast of Kingston on Sunday evening.
The hurricane centre has ranked the storm at Category 4 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity.
It is expected to turn to the north overnight.
BETTER SAFE: Woman dismantles seaside home in Port Arthur Lane in Annotto Bay, St Mary before Hurricane Matthew. #MappingMatthew pic.twitter.com/SaoqjJmjXh— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 2, 2016
Residents of Purcell Lane in Annotto Bay, St Mary fill sand bags ahead of expected flooding in the coastal town. #MappingMatthew pic.twitter.com/o8iKHZNhIc— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 2, 2016
Cuba
Eastern Cuba is expected to feel bands of fierce wind and rain.
Flights have been suspended.
Cuban President Raul Castro is warning that Matthew is stronger than Hurricane Sandy, which devastated Santiag
Concern is mounting in Haiti as Hurricane Matthew edges closer to the Caribbean nation.
Traveling at seven kilometres an hour, the hurricane is bringing 230 kilometre-an-hour winds and heavy rain.
It is the strongest storm to menace the Caribbean since 2007.
The centre is expected to make landfall near southwestern Haiti and Jamaica late on Monday.
#Matthew 15-25” rain S. Haiti & SW Dominican. Republic – possible isolated 40”. 7-10' storm surge S coast of Haiti. https://t.co/T8bABTBWV8 pic.twitter.com/9BvRFWLzT9— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) October 3, 2016
Vulnerable
Haiti is vulnerable to disasters due to a combination of weak government and precarious living conditions.
More than 200,000 people were killed when a seven-magnitude earthquake struck in 2010.
The storm comes at a bad time for the country.
A long-delayed election is due to be held next Sunday.
La Savane
Hurricane Matthew fears grow in Haiti, some resist shelters https://t.co/X0hVzBCxTb— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2016
1,300 shelters have been set up with the capacity to hold 340,000 people.
Haitian officials say around 2,000 residents of the La Savane neighbourhood of Les Cayes are refusing to heed government calls to move out of their homes.
The power has reportedly gone off in the town.
The chief of police says it is impossible to force such a large number of people to leave their homes.
“I would have to arrest all those people and take them to a safe place, this is very difficult,” Luc Pierre told reporters.
The neighbourhood is just a few miles from where the centre of the hurricane is forecast to make landfall.
Some streets are already flooded in Les Cayes, a town of around 70,000 people.
Jamaica
Officials are scrambling to protect the vulnerable from the worst of the coming storm.
Residents have boarded windows and are stocking up on essentials in supermarkets.
Evacuation operations are underway.
Some have even taken refuge in a network of caves.
Matthew is around 415 kilometres southeast of Kingston on Sunday evening.
The hurricane centre has ranked the storm at Category 4 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity.
It is expected to turn to the north overnight.
BETTER SAFE: Woman dismantles seaside home in Port Arthur Lane in Annotto Bay, St Mary before Hurricane Matthew. #MappingMatthew pic.twitter.com/SaoqjJmjXh— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 2, 2016
Residents of Purcell Lane in Annotto Bay, St Mary fill sand bags ahead of expected flooding in the coastal town. #MappingMatthew pic.twitter.com/o8iKHZNhIc— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 2, 2016
Cuba
Eastern Cuba is expected to feel bands of fierce wind and rain.
Flights have been suspended.
Cuban President Raul Castro is warning that Matthew is stronger than Hurricane Sandy, which devastated Santiag