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Hurricane Matthew death toll rises in Haiti and US

The devastation wreaked by Hurricane Matthew rose over the weekend, as the death toll in Haiti rose to 1,000 and at least 17 were declared dead in the US.

The hurricane, which was the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, hit Haiti early last week with 145mph winds, before moving towards the south-eastern states of the US, where states of emergency were declared.

A tally of official numbers made by the news agency Reuters suggested more than 1,000 were killed in Haiti as disease spread in the wake of the storm.

And in the US, 17 were declared dead as the storm hit parts of Florida, North and South Carolina and Georgia before moving out to sea.

The official death toll is unknown as many areas remain cut off by flood waters, Sky News reported.

David Scowsill, president and chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti, who once again find themselves victim of a natural disaster. Many people have died or been injured. Our hearts go out to the families of those affected.

“It is particularly distressing to see that Haiti has been hit again, just as the country was finally recovering from the devastation caused by the earthquake in 2010.

“Haiti is a beautiful country with enormous future potential. On behalf of the entire travel and tourism sector we stand by Haiti, as it comes to terms with this latest terrible disaster.”

Airports and tourist attractions in the US were closed as a precaution as the storm approached, but most have now reopened.

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