GONAÏVES — A tropical wave introduced heavy rain to Gonaïves in a single day Tuesday into Wednesday, triggering flooding and landslides that killed one particular person, injured two and broken about 1,500 properties, in accordance with a preliminary evaluation by Haiti’s Civil Safety company.
“One girl who lived within the Praville neighborhood died after she was swept away by floodwaters,” Faustin Joseph, departmental technical coordinator of the Artibonite Departmental Emergency Operations Middle for Civil Safety, advised The Haitian Instances Thursday.
“That is an early and preliminary evaluation,” Joseph added, confirming two individuals had been severely injured by flooding particles. “We’re nonetheless surveying the town to evaluate the complete extent of the devastation.”
The town’s hardest-hit areas embody Bienac, Gatreau, Ka-Soleil, Praville and Bois-d’Homme. Floodwaters and dust entered properties, whereas public infrastructure, together with the Gonaïves Civil Jail, was additionally affected.
The storm as soon as once more uncovered Gonaïves’ vulnerability as the primary metropolis of the Artibonite Division and Haiti’s second-largest city heart after Port-au-Prince, the place insufficient drainage, broken infrastructure and development in high-risk areas can flip heavy seasonal rains into lethal flooding. Throughout Haiti, weak infrastructure and restricted disaster-preparedness capability go away communities significantly susceptible to storms, flooding and landslides. The World Bank has recognized drainage techniques, roads, bridges and different infrastructure as vital priorities for strengthening the nation’s resilience to excessive climate.
Landslides threaten residents in Bienac— a spot deemed unsafe
In Bienac, on the northern fringe of the town, heavy rains triggered a landslide on the mountain, sending rocks, sediment and different particles down towards neighborhoods under and worsening the flooding.
Residents stated the menace stays, significantly due to poor drainage and development in areas uncovered to landslides and falling rocks.
“The hazard continues to be imminent. The authorities haven’t but come to the help of Bienac residents,” stated Pierre Jean-Baptiste, coordinator of a company targeted on preventing poverty.
Resident Findy Joseph stated drainage issues within the mountainous space contribute to recurring landslides.
“This drawback happens each time it rains. The rocks are uncovered and signify an imminent hazard to the lives of Bienac residents,” he stated.
Joseph additionally criticized uncontrolled development within the space, saying it has elevated dangers for residents.
“I’m a resident of Bienac, and this isn’t the primary time we have now seen landslides,” he stated. “There is no such thing as a obvious will to guard the inhabitants.”
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A partial view of the underside of Mount Bientac, the place residents are uncovered to landslides and rolling rocks, as seen on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Photograph by Onès Joseph for The Haitian Time -
Residents assess rockfalls on Bienac Mountain in Gonaïves after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in a number of neighborhoods. Ka-Soleil, Bois-d’Homme, Praville and Gatreau had been among the many hardest-hit areas. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Photograph by Onès Joseph for The Haitian Instances.
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Weak residents seen in Bienac, Gonaïves, after the Sept. 1-2, 2026 landslides and flooding. Photograph by Onès Joseph for The Haitian Instances.
He urged authorities to behave rapidly and declare probably the most susceptible space a public utility zone to stop additional lack of life and property injury.
Throughout an August go to to the world, the minister of public works, transport and communications, Joseph Almathe Pierre Louis, stated some components of Bienac had been not secure for residents.
Uncovered rocks and unstable terrain pose an ongoing menace to individuals’s lives, Pierre-Louis stated—including that the central authorities must work with native authorities to seek out an pressing answer.
Residents at the moment are calling for the rehabilitation of ravines, dredging of canals and drains, reconstruction of broken infrastructure and help for affected households.
They’re additionally urging authorities to finish preventive work earlier than the subsequent main rainfall, warning that with out enhancements to drainage and different infrastructure, the identical neighborhoods might face extra flooding, landslides, deaths and property losses.
Residents name for urgency with different neighborhoods additionally fighting recurring floods
Ka-Soleil, Bois–d’Homme and Praville had been additionally closely affected.
Residents of those neighborhoods blamed the situation of the Bienac perimeter drain and stated a bridge on Rue Égalité obstructs water circulate via a channel.
Jean-Baptiste stated he has spent years urging authorities to rehabilitate ravines and shield communities uncovered to landslides.
“The authorities should act as rapidly as doable in response to this warning about landslides and proceed with the restore of the ravine that runs via Bienac, with a purpose to keep away from the worst,” he stated.
The demand displays a broader drawback going through Haiti because the Atlantic seasonal rains intensify. The nation’s restricted and deteriorating drainage and transportation infrastructure can go away communities remoted or overwhelmed throughout main rain occasions.
Onel Etienne, one other Ka-Soleil resident, stated residents have organized a number of drain-cleaning efforts however these restricted efforts haven’t been in a position to forestall recurring flooding.
“Residents have organized a number of rounds of drain cleansing, however nothing is being adequately performed to cease this high-intensity flooding from persevering with to occur,” he lamented. “Circumstances stay unchanged for us in Ka-Soleil.”
Etienne stated rebuilding the Rue Égalité bridge ought to be a precedence.
“The one strategy to alleviate the struggling of the inhabitants affected by this case is for the authorities to take duty and rebuild this collapsed bridge,” he added.
Municipal authorities promise motion
Adens Pierre, director of the Gonaïves mayor’s workplace, acknowledged the extent of the injury and stated municipal authorities had been contemplating measures to handle the quick dangers.
He stated officers had been engaged on plans to dredge canals and drains that carry water into the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
“We’re planning to handle the primary danger components for the inhabitants,” Pierre stated. “We’re working intently with different authorities to facilitate the resumption of actions for the members of the inhabitants affected by this catastrophe.”
Civil Safety officers additionally stated unregulated development and settlement in high-risk areas have elevated residents’ vulnerability.
Joseph stated the company has beforehand carried out consciousness campaigns in Bienac urging residents to not stay in areas straight uncovered to landslides.
Joseph stated authorities additionally have to coordinate with native and worldwide organizations to help households affected by the catastrophe.
“We’re making ready higher coordination to help the inhabitants of the affected space, with respect and human dignity,” he stated.
“The size of the injury, nonetheless, has renewed requires longer-term measures reasonably than emergency responses after every main rainfall,” he added.
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