Rome (Fides Service) - According to the community of Camillian Brothers in Haiti, at least 300 people were killed in violent floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, two countries which share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The death toll could rise in the next few hours.
Rescue workers retrieved at least 110 bodies in the Dominican province of Jimani on the border with Haiti where at least 200 are reported missing. In Haiti, floods killed 100 people in the north east Fond Verettes outskirts of the capital Port au Prince and 40 more lost their lives in the past few days. Another 20 were drowned on the border between the two Caribbean countries.
The suburb of Fonds Verettes was almost totally destroyed by the fury of the flood waters. This lowland locality with large rivers is regularly damaged during seasons of cyclones and torrential rain. According to the local community of Camillians the worst hit area is reported to be village of Lecay in southern Haiti. (AP) (26/5/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:16; Parole:184)