PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, (CMC) – The General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) in Haiti is reporting that 15 people have died and eight others are missing following two days of heavy rains caused by “a low-pressure situation at all levels of the atmosphere” over the country.

Director General of the Hydro-meteorological Unit, Marcelin Esterlin, said the rains which have been pounding the country since June 1, are expected to continue during this week, with the authorities saying the probability of rain is 65 per cent for Monday and 85 per cent the following day.

In a statement providing a provisional assessment of the situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country, the rains have caused several rivers to overflow their banks resulting in floods, and landslides in many areas.

It said the authorities have had to put in place several emergency measures to ensure the safety of the affected populations.

According to the provisional assessment report, there have been 15 deaths, eight people missing and 7,475 families affected, totalling 37,375 people. It said that 1,219 houses have been flooded and about 13,390 people displaced in the departments of West, Nippes, South-East, North-West and the Center.

The authorities said that in the West department alone, 5,510 households are affected and more than 2,539 households are displaced. In the Center department, the agricultural sector is very impacted.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Public Works said it had carried out interventions to unblock roads in the Joumou, Péligre area and that similar interventions have taken place in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in other regions.

The Meteorological Unit of Haiti said it is closely monitoring the weather and the DGPC said it is urging the population to remain vigilant and urged individuals in areas affected by the rains not to cross flooded waterways under any circumstances.