Tragedy in Haiti: At Least 23 Dead, 17 Injured, and 13 Missing After Hurricane Melissa Devastates the Region

A woman walks through a flooded street in Les Cayes, Haiti, on October 29.

By  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 5:59 PM EST, October 29, 2025

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  — Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency confirmed Wednesday that at least 23 people have died, 17 have been injured, and 13 remain missing following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, which tore through the country earlier this week.

The hardest-hit area is Petit-Goâve, a coastal town southwest of Port-au-Prince, where an overflowing river caused massive flooding, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and entire families. Officials report that 20 of the confirmed deaths occurred in Petit-Goâve, including 10 children. Rescue efforts continue in the region, where at least 10 residents are still unaccounted for.

Authorities have since revised an earlier death toll of 25 that was initially reported by the town’s mayor. Teams from Haiti’s National Civil Protection Directorate, along with local emergency workers and volunteers, are conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations amid damaged infrastructure and continued rainfall.

“The situation remains critical,” said a spokesperson for the Civil Protection Agency. “Many families have lost everything. We are doing all we can to locate the missing and provide relief to survivors.”

The flooding has also destroyed key roadways, isolated several rural communities, and disrupted access to clean water and electricity. Humanitarian organizations are now mobilizing to deliver food, medical aid, and temporary shelter to affected areas.

Hurricane Melissa, which formed in the Caribbean earlier this week, brought torrential rains and high winds as it passed over the southern peninsula. Meteorologists warn that flood risks remain high in western and central Haiti as the storm continues to move northward.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has called for international assistance, citing the country’s limited emergency resources and ongoing recovery struggles from past natural disasters.