Hurricane Melissa Leaves Four Dead in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Hurricane Melissa has unleashed deadly floods and landslides across Haiti and the Dominican Republic as the powerful Category 4 storm continues to crawl through the Caribbean.

The Weather Channel reported that at least three people were killed in Haiti by landslides and falling trees. In the Dominican Republic, one person has died and another is missing. Another five were injured after a wall collapsed amid heavy rains and winds.

In the Dominican Republic, authorities have declared four provinces under red alert, with 13 in yellow and 13 in green as rains continue to drench the north and southwest. President Luis Abinader toured several dams on Sunday to assess water levels. Abinader warned that the heavy rains may cause overflow of the dams.

The Dominican Republic’s Centre for Emergency Operations (COE) reported more than 2,900 people are without electricity after 18 power circuits failed. Over 625,000 residents are without access to clean water following the shutdown of 60 aqueducts. The COE has begun using drones to deliver food and essential supplies to remote communities cut off by flooding and landslides.

Haiti has also reported collapsed bridges and destroyed homes as river levels rise sharply.