Local officials plead for federal aid as landslide and floods kill at least 4 in Cap-Haïtien

A deadly landslide and widespread flooding in Cap-Haïtien have left at least four people dead and dozens of homes submerged in water and mud, prompting local officials to declare an environmental state of emergency. Despite repeated calls for assistance, Haiti’s central government has not yet responded, leaving the city to fend for itself during this crisis.

“We still don’t have an answer until now,” Cap-Haïtien Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor told local reporter  Gérard Maxineau during an interview on Dec. 6. “A delegation was supposed to come, but it hasn’t come yet. We’re waiting for it.”

Days of heavy rain caused significant flooding in the northern city’s multiple neighborhoods, particularly on Dec. 5, when a landslide in the hilly Bande-du-Nord communal section claimed four lives. Local officials, including Administrative Council Maiono Mompremier Tompouce, indicated that the victims were identified as being from the same family whose home collapsed Thursday.

The tragic deaths include Wilson Marcellus, 38, Nadia Michel, 32, Wilmise Marcellus, 13, and Wildia Marcellus, 7.

The Haitian Times contacted the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) for comment on the central government’s plans to assist Cap-Haïtien. As of this writing, the CPT has not responded.

Cap-Haïtien’s inability to handle this natural disaster alone underscores the persistent issue of Haiti’s provinces depending heavily on Port-au-Prince for funding and resources. The city faced a similar challenge in July when it struggled to secure funds to celebrate its anniversary, also relying on the capital for support. Despite having prominent figures from Cap-Haïtien—such as CPT members Fritz Jean and Emmanuel Vertilaire—in influential government positions, residents feel overlooked. Many had hoped these leaders would prioritize their hometown, but their expectations have largely gone unmet.

Recurring threats and unfulfilled promises

Cap-Haïtien has faced repeated devastation from flooding. In May, at least 12 residents were killed in a landslide on Laborie Hill following heavy rain. Residents are increasingly concerned about the city’s vulnerability to similar events, particularly in many areas near irrigation canals, seawater, or hillsides.

In January, the town hall announced plans to demolish homes in high-risk areas to prevent catastrophes. However, many of these plans have not been implemented, leaving neighborhoods like Des Charriers and Vertières among those most severely affected by the recent flooding.

The mounting frustration is evident. For scores of Cap-Haïtien residents, the lack of government intervention is both frustrating and disheartening.

“Cap-Haïtien is an area the State doesn’t really have its eyes on,” said Tedson Massion, a music teacher living in Petite-Anse. “We’re frustrated… The government is taking taxes from me, and I don’t see what they’re doing with it,” he said, lamenting that trash-filled streets worsened the flooding from days of torrential rains in the city.

Massion, whose living space was spared from the flooding due to its second-floor location, has been unable to work as his employer, Institution Chrétienne Enfant de la Promesse (ICEP), remains closed.

Private sector steps in amid state of emergency

In response to the crisis, Cap-Haïtien’s Town  Hall officials declared a six-month environmental state of emergency to address the growing damage. They aim to secure financial resources, materials, and manpower to assist vulnerable residents, renovate damaged infrastructure, and improve the city’s drainage system to prevent future floods.

A Dec. 5 note from the Town Hall outlined its goals, which include repairing roads, bridges, and electrical networks. Shelters are being provided for displaced residents, though officials have not yet released detailed statistics on the extent of the damage or the number of affected victims.

Deputy Mayor Almonor also announced that a study on the root causes of the city’s flooding would be presented on Dec. 12.

With little to no help from the central government, private entities have stepped in to provide the city with some crucial aid. An engineering firm known as COAMCO Haiti has supplied five trucks to assist with clearing waste management sites. Excavators have been deployed to remove water and mud from flooded streets, a temporary but necessary measure to mitigate the crisis.

Despite these efforts, many streets in affected neighborhoods—such as Zo-Vincent, Blue Hills, Fort Saint-Michel, and Petite-Anse—remain inundated. Roads are littered with mud and trash, and helpless residents still struggle to drain water from their homes days after the rainfall.

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