The death toll in Haiti as a result of Hurricane Matthew – the most powerful Caribbean storm in a decade – has soared to more than 400. The city of Jeremie saw 80% of its buildings levelled. In Sud province 30,000 homes were destroyed.
Category Three Matthew, with sustained winds of 120mph (193km/h), is heading up the coastline of the US state of Florida but has not made landfall.
Florida officials are very concerned about storm surges as Hurricane Matthew brushes the coast, and the “worst effects are still likely to come,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday morning.
Officials are particularly concerned about low-lying areas in Jacksonville, where there is potential for significant flooding.
He said portions of the coast already have recorded 100 mph winds, and 10 feet of storm surge.
Reacting to news of the devastation in Haiti, is former CARICOM ambassador to Haiti, Earl Huntley.
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