Hurricane Matthew pummeled the island nation of Haiti, killing at least 478, as rescue workers and aid agencies continue their search for survivors in remote areas of the country.
Matthew hit Haiti on Tuesday, bringing with it torrential downpour and 145mph winds, displacing 15,000 people and destroying more than 3,200 homes, according to The Guardian. Crops and plantations have been completely destroyed.
Most of the deaths occurred in towns and fishing villages along the southern coast, with many killed by flying debris, falling trees and gushing rivers, reports the BBC.
“The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that more than one million Haitians have been affected, with hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,” write Sam Jones and Amanda Holpuch, and has “launched an appeal for £5.8m to help provide medical relief, shelter, water and sanitation over the next year.”
Cholera is now a very big concern, as an extremely poor sanitation system has been totally overwhelmed by the flooding.
