Overview:
A tropical wave triggered flooding and landslides in Gonaïves, the primary metropolis of the Artibonite Division, killing one individual, severely injuring two and damaging about 1,500 properties. The toughest-hit areas included Bienac, Gatreau, Ka-Soleil, Praville and Bois-d’Homme, the place floodwaters and dirt entered properties. Public infrastructure, together with the town’s civil jail, was additionally affected.
GONAÏVES — A tropical wave introduced heavy rain to Gonaïves in a single day Tuesday into Wednesday, triggering flooding and landslides that killed one individual, injured two and broken about 1,500 properties, in line 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 Heart for Civil Safety, informed 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 total extent of the devastation.”
The town’s hardest-hit areas embody Bienac, Gatreau, Ka-Soleil, Praville and Bois-d’Homme. Floodwaters and dirt 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 building in high-risk areas can flip heavy seasonal rains into lethal flooding. Throughout Haiti, weak infrastructure and restricted disaster-preparedness capability depart communities notably weak to storms, flooding and landslides. The World Bank has recognized drainage programs, roads, bridges and different infrastructure as crucial 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 mentioned the menace stays, notably due to poor drainage and building in areas uncovered to landslides and falling rocks.
“The hazard remains to be imminent. The authorities haven’t but come to assistance from Bienac residents,” mentioned Pierre Jean-Baptiste, coordinator of a company centered on preventing poverty.
Resident Findy Joseph mentioned drainage issues within the mountainous space contribute to recurring landslides.
“This drawback happens each time it rains. The rocks are uncovered and symbolize an imminent hazard to the lives of Bienac residents,” he mentioned.
Joseph additionally criticized uncontrolled building within the space, saying it has elevated dangers for residents.
“I’m a resident of Bienac, and this isn’t the primary time we’ve seen landslides,” he mentioned. “There isn’t 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. Picture 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. Picture by Onès Joseph for The Haitian Instances.
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Susceptible residents seen in Bienac, Gonaïves, after the Sept. 1-2, 2026 landslides and flooding. Picture by Onès Joseph for The Haitian Instances.
He urged authorities to behave shortly and declare essentially the most weak 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, mentioned some components of Bienac had been now not secure for residents.
Uncovered rocks and unstable terrain pose an ongoing menace to individuals’s lives, Pierre-Louis mentioned—including that the central authorities must work with native authorities to search out an pressing resolution.
Residents are actually 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 following main rainfall, warning that with out enhancements to drainage and different infrastructure, the identical neighborhoods may face extra flooding, landslides, deaths and property losses.
Residents name for urgency with different neighborhoods additionally combating 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 mentioned a bridge on Rue Égalité obstructs water circulation by means of a channel.
Jean-Baptiste mentioned he has spent years urging authorities to rehabilitate ravines and defend communities uncovered to landslides.
“The authorities should act as shortly as attainable in response to this warning about landslides and proceed with the restore of the ravine that runs by means of Bienac, with the intention to keep away from the worst,” he mentioned.
The demand displays a broader drawback dealing with Haiti because the Atlantic seasonal rains intensify. The nation’s restricted and deteriorating drainage and transportation infrastructure can depart communities remoted or overwhelmed throughout main rain occasions.
Onel Etienne, one other Ka-Soleil resident, mentioned residents have organized a number of drain-cleaning efforts however these restricted efforts haven’t been in a position to stop 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 mentioned rebuilding the Rue Égalité bridge needs to be a precedence.
“The one option to alleviate the struggling of the inhabitants affected by this example is for the authorities to take accountability 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 mentioned municipal authorities had been contemplating measures to handle the quick dangers.
He mentioned 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 elements for the inhabitants,” Pierre mentioned. “We’re working carefully with different authorities to facilitate the resumption of actions for the members of the inhabitants affected by this catastrophe.”
Civil Safety officers additionally mentioned unregulated building and settlement in high-risk areas have elevated residents’ vulnerability.
Joseph mentioned the company has beforehand performed consciousness campaigns in Bienac urging residents to not stay in areas straight uncovered to landslides.
Joseph mentioned authorities additionally have to coordinate with native and worldwide organizations to help households affected by the catastrophe.
“We’re getting ready higher coordination to help the inhabitants of the affected space, with respect and human dignity,” he mentioned.
“The size of the injury, nonetheless, has renewed requires longer-term measures moderately than emergency responses after every main rainfall,” he added.