Thursday during a press conference at the premises of the Town Hall of Petit-Goâve, the Mayor Limongy Samson Jean, accompanied by members of the Civil Protection, gave a first partial assessment of number of casualties and of extensive damage caused by the passage of Hurricane Mathew in Petit-Goâve.

Local authorities have identified: 14 dead, 35 injured, 150 houses destroyed, 885 damaged houses, 4 schools destroyed and 18 others damaged, one damaged church and another destroyed.

In a second press conference later in the day, the mayor has communicated a new provisional toll of 21 dead, 35 injured, 274 houses destroyed, 1,625 damaged homes, 2 schools destroyed, 18 damaged schools.

In addition to this heavy assessment, the municipal market of downtown has suffered considerable damage. The bridge over the river LaDigue was washed away during floods https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18821-haiti-flash-the-bridge-ladigue-collapses-situation-west-pap.html . The electrical system has been damaged due to strong winds, uprooted trees have broken cables and electricity pylons fell.

Across the downtown, uprooted trees litter the ground. Flooded areas are : street Geffrard (nan Bannann), lower downtown : street Saint Paul, street Républicaine, Percin, Provence, Font fable, square Soulouque, Ti Guinin, Ladigue (Marco Hotel), Capdestré, premiére plaine, (zone dlo piti, vyé chodyè, Cavanac, Cupperlier, Barrette, L'Acul, Chabanne.

115 families are currently housed at the Lycée Faustin Soulouque.

At the level of 12 communal sections, the damage is even higher. The gardens of the peasants are completely devastated, a large number cattle have been carried away, roads are damaged and some are impracticable...

The Mayor of Petit-Goâve launches an request for assistance "We need cooking kits, food and hygiene kits, shelter, construction kits, equipment to help the affected people who are both in town and in the rural areas."

UPDATE : According to the latest information Friday, the number of victims is experiencing a sharp increase in Petit-Goâve. It now risen to 30 dead according to the mayor Limongy Samson Jean.

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goâve)