WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Hurricane Matthew has claimed the lives of five people in Haiti after it landed there on Tuesday, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, DC said in a press release.
"While this natural disaster has left crops, homes and bridges severely damaged. Five storm-related deaths have been reported," the release stated on Wednesday.
Hurricane Matthew was reported as a category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, according to the release.
The government of Haiti has taken concrete steps to address the urgent needs on the ground as the next few days will be critical to the recovery process for the victims of the storm, according to the release.
The government strongly encourages all individuals who are in the process of organizing specific responses and action plans, to work with the local organizations and institutions in Haiti, the release added.