Hurricane Matthew has reached Haiti, threatening western areas with high winds, rain and storm surges.
The eye made landfall just after 6:00 a.m. on the south-western tip of the island.
The US National Hurricane Center said, "Haiti was getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them."
Haiti's interim President Jocelerme Privert said a number of people had been killed so far, while others have been reported missing. He blamed this on persons not adhering to the alerts to evacuate.
Matthew could bring up to 102 centimetres of rain and winds of 230 kilometres, potentially triggering mudslides and flash floods in Haiti.
Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and many residents live in wooden or corrugated steel shacks in areas prone to flooding.
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