Overview:
Haiti has reported three deaths and six injuries caused by landslides and flooding as Tropical Storm Melissa continues to pound several regions. Civil Protection officials report material damage across multiple departments as authorities warn of more heavy rain, flooding and landslides in the days ahead.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Three people have died and six others were injured in Haiti as Tropical Storm Melissa continues to bring heavy rains, flooding, landslides and wind across several regions, the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC) confirmed Friday.
In its Situation Report No. 2, the DGPC said two people were killed and one injured on Thursday in Fontamara, a neighborhood in the West Department, following a landslide. An elderly man in his 70s was also killed a day earlier in Marigot, in the Southeast Department, after being struck by a fallen tree.
Five other people were injured Wednesday in the Artibonite Department, where floodwaters inundated the commune of Ennery, destroying homes and damaging infrastructure.
Civil Protection officials also reported widespread material damage, including the collapse of a bridge in Sainte-Suzanne, in the Northeast Department, and flooding on Rue Saint-Martin in Port-de-Paix, where several houses were destroyed or severely damaged.
“The outer bands of Tropical Storm Melissa continue to create instability over Haiti,” said the country’s meteorological authorities. “Its slow movement increases the risk of prolonged rainfall, making floods and landslides almost inevitable.”
Five departments remain under orange alert as authorities urge vigilance and solidarity.
The Hydrometeorological Unit (UHM) of the Ministry of Agriculture has kept the Southeast, South, Nippes, Grand’Anse and West departments under an orange cyclone alert, issued on Wednesday. Authorities warn that the storm could shift northward and strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, the storm’s center was located about 212 miles south of Les Cayes and 300 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, moving north-northwest at less than two miles per hour. Meteorologists expect Melissa — the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season — to remain slow-moving, prolonging rainfall over southern and western Haiti through the weekend.
Authorities warn of flash floods, landslides, and strong wind gusts that could strike coastal and mountainous regions, with particularly dangerous sea swells along the southern and western coasts.
Civil Protection officials are urging residents in flood-prone and mountainous areas to seek shelter with relatives, avoid rivers and bridges, and follow official weather bulletins rather than rumors.
“The outer bands of Tropical Storm Melissa continue to create instability over Haiti.”
Haitian meteorological authorities
“Do not cross water flowing on the ground, on bridges, or in vehicles,” the DGPC said in a public advisory posted on X. “Show solidarity with the most vulnerable — the elderly, people with disabilities, and children — and keep your belongings and important documents safe.”
Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) have been activated across several departments. The Minister of the Interior also met with representatives from the ten departmental mayors’ federations on Thursday to strengthen coordination and readiness measures.
However, the Haitian government has not yet announced any official plans for temporary shelters or for distributing relief supplies, such as food, tents, or waterproof clothing, to those displaced by flooding.
International agencies mobilize aid, Haiti’s struggle with recurring disasters
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) announced Thursday it is releasing $4 million to assist more than 100,000 Haitians at risk from Tropical Storm Melissa. The funding will be managed by the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“These funds are part of anticipatory action efforts that allow the humanitarian community in Haiti to prepare for the direct impacts of storms and hurricanes,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
UN agencies said they are prioritizing communities most at risk — particularly those in informal settlements, where flooding and poor sanitation could worsen the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Melissa arrives as Haiti continues to face deep challenges in managing natural disasters. Decades of deforestation, urban overcrowding, poor drainage, and weak governance have left the country highly exposed to even moderate tropical storms.
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