Haiti Experiencing Widespread Flooding as a Result of Heavy Rain

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry says the National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) has been opened as heavy rains continue to lash Haiti causing widespread damage, but so far no loss of life.

Director General of the Hydro-meteorological Unit, Marcelin Esterlin, said the rains which have been pounding the country since June 1, are expected to continue during this week, with the authorities saying the probability of rain is 65 per cent for Monday and 85 per cent, the following day.

Collage of damage caused by heavy rains in Haiti

“We had planned a situation where we would have three to five days of rain. It started on June 1st and will continue. This is not a situation that will improve in the coming hours because we have compact rain cells that have settled in the West and South-East departments, which explains why it’s raining all the time,” Esterlin said.

The government met on Saturday to discuss the situation as rivers overflow their banks,  floods, landslides and extensive damage across the country.

Public Works Minister, Rosemond Pradel, has set up a task force and issued instructions to the Departmental Directors to take all the necessary measures to intervene effectively in the “chefs-lieux” of departments and municipalities.

The authorities are reporting that In the North West, many towns are flooded, leaving many people homeless. In the capital, some roads have become impassable, mudslides in Port-au-Prince and several other regions have been reported, hospitals and health centers in the Léogâne region have been flooded. The lack of cleaning of the canals makes the situation difficult in certain areas.