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At least three people died and five were injured in Haiti due to the effects of Tropical Storm Melissa, according to a report by the agency EFE.
Authorities warned that the count is provisional and the number of victims could rise as on-site verifications progress.
This Friday, new storm bands unleashed heavy rains, causing flash floods and landslides that particularly affected the departments of Grand Sud and Ouest, in a country already facing a severe humanitarian and security crisis.
In this context, all units of the Haitian National Police remain on high alert, while emergency services prepare for a possible worsening of the weather this Saturday, when the system could continue to strengthen and put large segments of the population at risk.
The authorities urged extreme caution due to the possibility of new floods and landslides in vulnerable areas, and called on the public to follow official channels for instructions regarding potential evacuations or preventive road closures.
The report emphasizes that the assessment of damages and the tally of victims remain ongoing, as teams manage to access affected areas with limited communication and mobility due to the continuing rain.
Melissa becomes stronger
Meteorologist José Rubiera reported this Saturday that Melissa is now a hurricane, gaining strength quickly over the very warm waters of the Caribbean and showing clear signs of internal organization.
The expert warned that it could arrive as a powerful hurricane for eastern Cuba and that, although the vortex "is not yet completely vertical," it will be "in a few hours."
This condition, combined with the extremely high ocean energy—waters at 30–31 °C with a warm layer up to 120 meters thick—promotes a rapid intensification of the system.
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