Haiti - At least 42 dead, thousands homeless after flooding and landslides caused widespread damage (UPDATE)

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 05 Jun 2023 10:26 UTC

Heavy rains cause widespread flooding in Haiti

Heavy rainfall in Haiti over the past few days has resulted in severe flooding and landslides, inflicting significant damage across the country. The capital city of Port-au-Prince and the Ouest Departments have been particularly affected, with hospitals and other structures suffering damage. In addition, a bridge near Jérémie in the Grand'Anse Department has been destroyed, exacerbating the situation.

The relentless downpours that commenced on 01 June 2023, intensified during the early hours of 03 June, leading to overflowing rivers and triggering numerous landslides. In some cases, the situation was further exacerbated by blocked drainage channels and bodies of water.

According to official reports, at least 15 individuals have lost their lives as a result of the disaster, while eight people remain missing. Regrettably, the death toll is anticipated to rise as search and rescue operations continue.

To ensure the safety of its citizens, authorities have carried out the evacuation of 13,390 individuals across multiple departments, including Ouest, Nippes, Sud-Est, Nord-Ouest, and Centre.

Around 7,475 families have been affected, mostly in the Ouest department where 5,510 households were affected and over 2,539 households were displaced from their homes. Haiti's Civil Protection reported at least 1,219 houses severely damaged by flooding across the country.

The agricultural sector in the Centre department has also suffered severe repercussions from the flooding, adding to the already dire situation.

Responding to the crisis, the government has established the National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) to coordinate and mobilize resources for disaster relief efforts.

Tragically, a separate incident unfolded off the coast of Côte-de-Fer, where an overloaded boat capsized. The incident claimed the life of one person, while 14 individuals were successfully rescued.

An earthquake of 4.2 was registered near Abricot in Grand'Anse Department on 04 June.

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Comment: Update

Miami Herald reports:

At least 42 dead, thousands homeless in Haiti after a weekend of heavy rains, flooding

A weekend of torrential rains and widespread flooding in Haiti have left at least 42 people dead, 11 missing and over 13,300 homeless, the government's disaster response agency said.

The Office of Civil Protection said the weather also left at least 7,475 families affected, and flooded at least 13,633 homes across several regional departments. The city of Léogâne, just south of Port-au-Prince, was most affected. The city also registered at least 11 deaths, Jerry Chandler, the head of the Office of Civil Protection, said Monday when the death toll still stood at about 30 and he cautioned the casualties were still preliminary.

By Monday afternoon, the numbers were updated to show that the damage is even more extensive than initially thought. At least 85 people have also been injured, authorities said.

"The biggest impact was the West" region, Chandler said, referring to the area that encompasses the capital.

Also affected in the capital were major health centers including GHESKIO because the Bois de chêne canal, located next door, hasn't been cleaned out for the last five years. The center's director, Dr. Jean William "Bill" Pape said many computers, although placed on elevated platforms, have been damaged by the rains.

Other regions in the environmentally vulnerable country that saw heavy damage were: the Northwest; the Nippes; and the Southeast, where a boat capsized Saturday morning that resulted in the death of two passengers. Fourteen others were rescued.

"In the Center department, the agricultural sector is very impacted," the agency said in a statement.

Also affected is a bridge that was submerged from overflowing river waters, and several roads have also been cut off by flooding and boulders. While the damage assessment is ongoing, Chandler said emergency response teams are mobilized and trying to support affected communities. Along with United Nations aid groups, Civil Protection volunteers are slowly deploying shelter, food and sanitary facilities, and drinking water to those affected.

The heavy rains, which began on Friday, occurred just days into the start of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.

Chandler told the Miami Herald last week that while they had managed to increase training and improve communication coverage so they can get real-time information from their volunteers as disaster strikes, they have been unable to get supplies due to the ongoing gang violence.

On Monday, he said security remains a concern as they "timidly" try to respond to the disaster while also trying to maneuver through gang-controlled territories to get help to the population.

The World Food Program said while the full consequences of the excess rainfall is still not known, the U.N. agency will start providing hot meals to displaced people over the coming hours. WFP is also mobilizing ready-to-eat rations and dry food that can assist up to 15,000 people.

"WFP has the capacity to respond to this emergency, but a significant weather induced event of this level so early in the hurricane season, which generally runs from June to November each year, raises concerns about the ability to provide a sustained response should extreme weather incidents continue to occur," the agency said in a statement.