Due to its geographical location, natural hazards like flooding, earthquakes, and droughts happen occasionally in Haiti. It also lies in a hurricane belt which causes severe storms in the summertime. These storms pose difficult challenges to the population, since huge parts of the agricultural harvest are frequently lost.
The last severe hurricane to hit Haiti was Hurricane Matthew that made landfall on October 4, 2016. Hurricane Matthew was a category 4 when it hit Jeremie, Haiti. According to estimates, more than 1,000 people lost their lives. This storm was catastrophic, destroying more than 3,200 homes which left over 15,000 people homeless. The hurricane wiped out many food sources and killed livestock. Many victims were killed by falling trees, flying debris and swollen rivers when Matthew hit with winds measured at 145 miles per hour.
The last severe earthquake occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010. Measuring a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale, it damaged the capital city of Port-au-Prince heavily. According to estimates, about a third of Haiti’s population was affected, with 1 million left homeless. The Haitian government estimates that 316,000 people died and 300,000 were injured during the earthquake.
Click here to experience the aftermath of the earthquake in an interactive format through the perspective of a survivor, an aid worker, or a journalist!
