Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks frantically sought shelter as the strongest Caribbean storm in nine years, Hurricane Matthew, closed in on the southwestern peninsula, sending storm surges, wind and rain into seaside towns. "Life-threatening rain, wind and storm surges" had begun to spread over parts of the country as Matthew approached, the center said in a 5 am EDT (0900 GMT) Tuesday advisory. In the town of Les Cayes on the southern coast, the wind bent trees and the power went out. "We have gusts of wind hitting the whole area and the people have fled to a shelter," said Les Anglais mayor Jean-Claude Despierre. In Tiburon, another town nearby, the mayor said people who had been reluctant to leave their homes also fled when the sea rose.

Source: The Star October 04, 2016 09:22 UTC