Hispaniola is hit by floods and mudslides

Heavy rain has caused destruction across Haiti and the Dominican Republic leaving thousands homeless.

Hispaniola floods and mudslides
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The deforestation in Haiti has ensured that flooding and landslides have become more common in recent years.[AP]

Many days of heavy rain has caused widespread flooding and mudslides in Hispaniola. At least six people have died in Haiti and over 11,000 have been forced from their homes in the Dominican Republic.

Nearly 500,000 people still remain homeless in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. On Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid said that the deaths had occurred right across the country.

There are conflicting figures as to the exact death toll; it could be as high as nine. We do know that two people died in a landslide in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Two others drowned while trying to cross a swollen river near the coastal town of Anse-a-Foleur and two more suffered the same fate elsewhere.

In neighbouring Dominican Republic, officials say that there have not been any reports of deaths or injuries, but around 11,150 people have been evacuated from their homes. Emergency office spokesman Jose Luis German said nearly 3,000 homes were flooded in the northern province of Puerto Plata and some central and southeastern towns.

Puerto Plata recorded 124mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 1200GMT Wednesday. There is plenty more rain in the forecast, and some 23 of the country’s 32 provinces remain at risk of flooding over the next few days. Concerns are mounting because this is only the start of the rainy season.

Source: Al Jazeera

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