2023 Haiti floods

{{Infobox weather event

| image = Haiti floods 2023-06-03 1520Z.jpg

| caption = Satellite imagery of the storm system responsible for the floods on 3 June

| duration = 2–3 June 2023

| cause = Heavy rains

}}{{Infobox weather event/Storm

| type = Flood

}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects

| total damages =

| injuries = 140

| fatalities = 51

| peoples affected =

| missing = 18

| houses-destroyed = ≥160

| areas = Ouest, Nippes, Sud-Est, Nord-Ouest, and Centre departments, Haiti

}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer

}}

On 2–3 June 2023, heavy rains caused destructive flooding across Haiti. Western areas of the country were particularly hard-hit. At least 51 people were killed, 140 were injured, and 11 were reported missing as of 6 June.

Background

From late May to early June 2023, periods of heavy rain impacted Haiti, leaving soils saturated and unable to absorb much additional rain. On 2–3 June, a stationary area of low pressure produced heavy rain and thunderstorms across the country.{{Cite news |last=Perez |first=Kate |date=6 June 2023 |title=Haiti hit by 4.9 magnitude earthquake as nation reels from floods that killed 42 |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/06/haiti-earthquake-tuesday-floods/70292699007/ |access-date=6 June 2023}} Rains subsided the following day as the storm system waned. With the aforementioned soils saturated, widespread flooding and landslides ensued.{{Cite report |url=https://reliefweb.int/attachments/51fe4ccd-7d75-4c25-8244-f96c5b44dcc5/20230604%20-%20Flash%20Update%20-%20Severe%20Climatic%20Events.pdf |title=Haiti: Severe Climatic Events – Flash Update # 1 (5 June 2023) |date=5 June 2023 |author=UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |via=ReliefWeb |accessdate=5 June 2023}}{{Cite news |date=4 June 2023 |title=15 dead, 8 missing after heavy rains unleash floods in Haiti |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/haiti-floods-died-rain-3d71e990286df5f65101212bd56c750c |access-date=5 June 2023}}

Impact and aftermath

Rivers overflowed their banks, inundating many communities. Landslides were also reported. Five of Haiti's ten departments were affected: Ouest, Nippes, Sud-Est, Nord-Ouest, and Centre. Damage was particularly severe around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. As of 6 June, 51 people were confirmed dead, 140 were injured, and 18 remained missing.{{Cite news |last1=Sanon |first1=Evens |last2=Coto |first2=Dánica |date=6 June 2023 |title=4.9 magnitude quake strikes southern Haiti; 4 dead, dozens injured |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/49-magnitude-quake-strikes-southern-haiti-3-dead-99863369 |access-date=6 June 2023}} One person drowned and 14 others were rescued when their boat capsized off the coast of Côtes-de-Fer.{{Cite news |last=Charles |first=Jacqueline |date=3 June 2023 |title=Haiti gets battered by damaging floods as Caribbean prepares for hurricane season |work=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article275983246.html |access-date=5 June 2023}} Crops were severely affected in central regions of the country.{{Cite news |last=Jiménez |first=Jesus |date=5 June 2023 |title=At Least 42 Are Dead and Thousands Are Displaced After Flooding in Haiti |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/05/world/americas/haiti-flooding-deaths.html |access-date=5 June 2023}} Three rivers burst their banks around Jérémie, leaving the city partially isolated. A bridge recently constructed in the city following a catastrophic earthquake in 2021 was partially destroyed. A total of 37,375 people were affected, 13,390 of whom were displaced. At least 13,591 homes were flooded and 820 were destroyed. Five health centers were also affected{{Cite report |url=https://reliefweb.int/attachments/34290a66-6a8b-4a14-bee9-4e758892832f/PAHO%20Situation%20Report%201_Flooding_Earthquake.pdf |title=Flooding/Earthquake - Haiti Situation Report 1 - Date 06/06/2023 |date=8 June 2023 |author=Pan American Health Organization |via=ReliefWeb |accessdate=10 June 2023}}

Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested international aid following the disaster.{{Cite news |date=5 June 2023 |title=Death toll rises to 42 as Haiti struggles to recover from floods |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-haiti-portauprince-world-food-program-b2351859.html |access-date=5 June 2023}} The World Food Programme began mobilizing resources and personnel on 5 June, with rations and dry food for 15,000 planned for distribution.{{Cite news |date=5 June 2023 |title=Death toll reaches 42 as Haiti inundated by deadly floods |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/5/death-toll-reaches-42-as-haiti-inundated-by-deadly-floods |access-date=5 June 2023}} The Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs worked in tandem for relief efforts. Relief missions costing US$720 million already in place from the 2021 earthquake were only 20 percent funded at the time of the floods. Recurrent gang violence hampered relief efforts. Léogâne Mayor Ernson Henry described residents as "desperate...[after losing] everything".

Two earthquakes followed the floods: a {{M|w|link=yes}}4.1 on 4 June and a {{M|w}}4.9 on 6 June.{{Cite web |date=4 June 2023 |title=M 4.1 – Haiti region |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000k6ag/executive |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher=United States Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program}}{{Cite web |date=4 June 2023 |title=M 4.9 – 9 km NE of Les Abricots, Haiti |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000k6lb/executive |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher=United States Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program}} The latter of these occurred near Jérémie, further complicating relief efforts.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2023 |title=Haiti: Deadly earthquake kills three after floods |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-65817633 |access-date=6 June 2023}} Four people were killed and 36 others were injured.