‘Humanitarian Disaster': Haiti's Forlorn History Suggests Matthew Could Be Another Killer

Predicted flooding and mudslides would cause the most damage in Haiti, where much of the hilly countryside has been stripped of its trees by the destitute populace

Hours before Hurricane Matthew was coming ashore in Haiti on Tuesday, flooding was already reported Monday — a warning sign of what history tells us could be another devastating episode for the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, NBC News reported.

Matthew was a Category 4 hurricane late Monday afternoon, making it the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, stronger even than the three hurricanes — Gustav, Hanna and Ike — that killed more than 800 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes in 2008.

"This is likely to be a humanitarian disaster," said Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel. "I think very bad things are coming up here for Haiti over the next 24 to 36 hours."

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