Seychelles president sends condolences after storm disaster in Haiti

The Seychelles President James Michel. (Seychelles News Agency)

The President of Seychelles, James Michel, on Friday expressed condolences to Haiti, the Caribbean nation that’s been hardest hit by a powerful hurricane.

In a message to his Haitian counterpart, Jocelerme Privert, President Michel expressed solidarity to the Haitian people, especially to families of the victims.

“The Government and people of Seychelles share the grief and fears of the friendly Creole people of Haiti,” said Michel.

“I wish a speedy comfort to those who are suffering as a result of the natural disaster. May the Haitian people find the strength and courage to overcome this painful moment,” Michel added.

According to the BBC, Hurricane Mathew -- described as the most powerful Caribbean storm in a decade -- has killed at least 300 people in Haiti, mainly on the southern coast. The death toll is expected to increase as rescue efforts continue.

Thousands of homes and buildings have also been destroyed. According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, some 350,000 people are in need of assistance.

Haiti, one of the world’s poorest nation according to World Bank data, is still recovering from a catastrophic earthquake which killed hundreds of thousands in 2010.

After battering Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, Matthew -- now downgraded to a category three hurricane – is now heading up the coastlines of the US state of Florida.

According to an AFP article, Hurricane Matthew is one of the most powerful storms to threaten Florida, adding that “the U.S. National Hurricane Center is predicting heavy rain, dangerous storm surges and winds gusting up to 140 mph.”