Deadly Hurricane Matthew hits Haiti as Category 4 storm

World Today

Hurricane Matthew approaches Haiti.Hurricane Matthew approaches Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 3, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Hurricane Matthew, the Category 4 storm that is packing high winds and aggressive rainfall, has made landfall in Haiti.

The hurricane was the first Category 4 to hit land in the country in 52 years. The storm is then expected to hit eastern Cuba and southeastern and central Bahamas.

Concern over whether Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, can withstand the hurricane is growing. The U.S. Agency for International Development on Monday promised $400,000 in aid to Haiti and Jamaica in preparation for the hurricane.

 

Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 that killed over 200,000 people. At least 55,000 Haitian residents are still living in tents and makeshift shelters, according to an ABC News report.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is monitoring the hurricane and its potential impact, according to Xinhua.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Tuesday said she plans to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Matthew to get 1 million people away from the coastal areas.

Story compiled with information from Reuters and Xinhua.