The Center of the dangerous Hurricane IRMA category 5 under the SAFFIR-SIMPSON scale, moves to the northeast of the Dominican Republic very early this morning and will approach the northern coast of Haiti in the next hours. The speed of travel continues to increase, it passes at 28km/h, always in the direction West-North-West.

In view of the displacement of the IRMA Hurricane and its destructive force, weather conditions will begin to deteriorate to become very dangerous over the next few hours on the country, particularly in the northeast, north and northern departments which are always under conditions of hurricane winds and those of the Center, the Artibonite and the West under conditions of the Storm winds. IRMA maintains its high rainfall capacity ranging from 200mm to 300mm in places that can cause severe flooding of sludge, landslides. Marine conditions remain dangerous with waves that could reach 4 to 5 m and could cause marine submersion.

Consequently, the SPGRD in conjunction with the DPC and the UHM pass this Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 5 am the warning phase 2 at the level of Red Vigilance (ie risk of impact of intensity to extreme) with heavy rains, gale and maintains the activation of the National Risk and Disaster Management Plan (PNGRD) to threats of heavy rain and strong winds with risks of landslides, high waves, floods throughout the country, particularly in the departments of North, North East, North West, Central and Artibonite.

The SPGRD in conjunction with DPC and UHM recommends that the population settling in the vulnerable zones leave quickly to join to the shelters following the instructions of the local authorities.

SEMANAH, OFNAC and AAN together with the UHM temporarily bans all maritime operations and flights from or to Ports and Airports throughout the northern part of the country until further notice.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22033-haiti-flash-irma-415-km-from-cap-haitien-flights-canceled.html

HL/ HaitiLibre