At least 12 people have died after severe flooding struck northwestern Haiti earlier this week, authorities confirmed on Wednesday, as heavy rains triggered landslides and widespread destruction across the region.
According to Haiti’s Civil Protection authorities, torrential rainfall between April 11 and 13 inundated several communities in the Northwest Department, including Port-de-Paix, Saint-Louis du Nord, and Anse-à-Foleur.
Officials said overflowing rivers, among them the Rivière des Trois Rivières, submerged homes and forced residents to flee, creating what has been described as a critical emergency situation. Authorities have warned conditions could deteriorate further if the rains continue.
Most of the fatalities were reported in rural areas of Saint-Louis du Nord, where victims were either buried in landslides or swept away by floodwaters. Several others sustained serious injuries.
Search efforts are ongoing for a number of missing persons, including fishermen and residents living along riverbanks in Anse-à-Foleur.
The flooding has directly impacted more than 2,500 families, many of whom have been displaced and are now sheltering with relatives or in temporary accommodations.
Officials have also issued an urgent appeal to the central government for assistance, citing immediate needs for food, clean drinking water, hygiene supplies, and sanitation support to prevent a potential public health crisis.
Preliminary damage assessments indicate that around 1,200 homes have been flooded, while schools and health centres across the affected communes have been left filled with mud and rendered inaccessible, disrupting essential services.
The disaster has also dealt a heavy blow to agriculture, with hundreds of livestock reportedly lost to the floodwaters, marking a significant financial setback for small-scale farmers.