Hurricane Matthew ripped through Haiti's southern coast on Tuesday, tearing off rooftops, flooding streets and fields, and toppling trees and electric lines in a country that's still struggling to recover from the devastating earthquake that hit six years ago.
The treacherous Category 4 hurricane is currently one of the strongest Caribbean storms in years. It carried winds of up to 145 mph when it landed at around 6 a.m. near the town of Les Anglais, located at the southwestern part of Haiti.
Hurricane Matthew's destruction in Haiti took a toll on the victims who are still rising from the aftermath of past calamities.
Reuters reported the hurricane death toll was nearing 900, with thousands rendered homeless. Apart from the devastation, outbreaks of cholera and other diseases have also been claiming lives.
Hurricane Matthew Hits Florida
The scale of destruction brought about by Hurricane Matthew, as it angrily paved its way through the Caribbean, became clearer as officials continued monitoring the number of casualties while cautioning that there are still numerous bodies yet to be discovered and accounted for.
Although it was downgraded to a Category 3 storm overnight as it roared through Florida, Hurricane Matthew's eye continues to stay offshore but its winds moved up the coastline on Friday morning, saving some communities from its winds of 120 mph in full force.
Despite that, it was still close enough to bring down power lines and trees. At Cape Canaveral, 107 mph winds were recorded, leaving about 1.1 million people without electricity.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott continued to warn the residents to remain vigilant: even if Hurricane Matthew's eye hovered over water, things could turn for the worse because it could bring about flooding especially to low-lying areas around St. Johns River and Jacksonville.
"It still has time to do a direct hit. This is not over ... It could be the worst part of this is yet to come," the governor said at a press conference.
Where Hurricane Matthew Is Headed
When Hurricane Matthew pummeled north toward Cuba and the Bahamas, states surrounding the United States southeastern coasts declared a state of calamity.
"This is the last time you will hear my voice asking you to evacuate," South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley told residents. She emphasized the severity of the situation, telling people this was not something they would want to dismiss lightly.
Haley called out cities and islands by name, worrying particularly about the high 8-feet storm surges flooding islands and surrounding areas.
Other Problems Brought About By Hurricanes
Aside from warnings of storm surges and the imminent power outages, Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on the travel industry.
Southern Florida airlines have canceled 4,500 flights since Wednesday, and despite some flight schedules resuming, travelers are still avoiding the north where the storm is still present.
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Tech Times will be updating this story once we get further information regarding the devastation brought on by Hurricane Matthew.
