ARTICLE - SANDY - MANY CITIES AFFECTED

SANDY - MANY CITIES AFFECTED
(Haiti Libre) - 25/10/2012 11:14:42

At 11 am, Sandy continues to move away from Haiti. It moves towards the North, at 26km/h, and it is currently at 22.4 degrees north latitude and 75.5 degrees west longitude, or 85km north of Cuba, 243 km North East of Haiti. Maximum winds blowing at 165km/h with gusts well above. The storm winds are blowing 220km from the center. We expect to receive a lot of rain today, because of the cloud mass at the rear of the system.

In the South Department, the town of Torbeck is totally flooded. Port Salut has heavy rain and strong wind gusts. At Rue Quai the population was surprised by the waters, the beach of pointe sable is heavily damaged, the hotel du village is practically destroyed (severely damaged), as well as several houses on Rue Quai. Plantations are destroyed and heads of cattle carried away. Part of the railing of the bridge of Port-Salut was swept away yesterday due to the flooding river. Les Cayes is under water; the water has reached up to 50 cm in some places. The hospital Immaculate Conception should be evacuated. The river Ilet is in flood. In Chantal, livestock have been washed away and 70 people have been placed in temporary shelters.

In the department of Nippes, the town of Anse-à-Veau is flooded. At Miragoâne since yesterday, the PNH evacuated all prisoners.

In the department of Grand Anse, to the Cayemites Islands, a rising tide was observed and several boats were crushed. In Dame Marie, about 14 houses and 3 boats destroyed. In Pestel many roofs were blown away.

In the department of Artibonite, Saint-Marc the rain falls since yesterday evening, strong winds are blowing on the lower Artibonite. In the fifth section of Saint-Marc roads are impassable.

In the department of the West, in Port-au-Prince and Petion-ville rain continues to fall; fog has been observed. In the area of ​​Tabarre, on Tabarre road, there are floods. The  Damien area is flooded since last night. Gonaïves has heavy rains. At the level of  the IDP camps in the metropolitan area, a precautionary evacuation this Wednesday, of 1,250 vulnerable people. At Laboule 12 trees have fallen, but the road is still passable. The DPC informs that all the rivers are in flood at the department level. In Arcahaie the bridge over the river Courjolle already damaged and closed to traffic, has collapsed. The city of Petit-Goâve is under water.

In the department of the Nord-Ouest, in Port-de-Paix a victim is reported.

771 and 133

The Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) has put in place an emergency number on the occasion of the passage of Sandy. 711 and the 133 can be used in case of difficulty 24/24 until Friday.

Flights and cabotage

Cabotage operations are prohibited in all coastal areas of the country until further notice. However, it is imperative that local flights to and from Terminals in departments of the South, Grande Anse, South-east and North-west exercise caution, faced with  threats of gusts of wind that are more and more obvious.