Haiti battered by 145mph winds as hurricane Matthew sweeps in

Hurricane Matthew has roared across the south-western tip of Haiti with 145mph winds, uprooting trees and tearing roofs from homes in the impoverished country as the storm heads north towards Cuba and the east coast of Florida.

One person was killed in Haiti as the storm closed in, and three children and an adult died as their homes crumbled around them in neighbouring Dominican Republic, bringing the death toll from Matthew's path through the Caribbean to at least seven.

The dangerous category four storm blew ashore around dawn local time in a corner of Haiti where many people live along the coast in shacks of wood or simple concrete blocks.

Concern, which has 128 staff based across Haiti, has stockpiled urgent supplies for communities in need as the category 4 storm with winds of up to 230kph hits their villages and towns.

Speaking from the capital Port-au-Prince, Concern Worldwide country director for Haiti, Nellie Kingston, from Clonakilty, Co. Cork, said: “We already have contingency stocks in place.

“We have many life-saving items such as blankets, shelter equipment and aqua tablets because once the hurricane hits things like electricity and water supplies very quickly become compromised.”

Matthew has caused major damage though the extent is not immediately known, Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of the country's Civil Protection Agency, said.

"It's much too early to know how bad things are, but we do know there are a lot of houses that have been destroyed or damaged in the south," she said.

Haitian authorities had tried to evacuate people from the most vulnerable areas ahead of the storm, but many were reluctant to leave their property. Some sought shelter only after the worst was already upon them, making their way through debris-strewn streets amid pounding rain.

"Many people are now asking for help, but it's too late because there is no way to evacuate them," Fonie Pierre, director of Catholic Relief Services for the Les Cayes area, said as she huddled in her office with about 20 other people.

Matthew is expected to bring 15-25in of rain, and up to 40in in isolated places, along with a 10ft storm surge and battering waves.

Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami, said: "They are getting everything a major hurricane can throw at them."

The storm has also dumped heavy rain, causing flooding, in Jamaica, and is forecast to head into the Bahamas after passing over Cuba.

Even Cuba's mountains are not expected to have much effect on dampening down the storm, Hurricane Centre forecasters said.

Forecasters said Matthew could menace Florida towards the end of the week and push its way up the US east coast over the weekend.

"We do not know yet whether the centre of Matthew will actually come ashore in Florida. That's possible," said Rick Knabb, director of the Hurricane Centre.

"It also could go to the right and stay farther offshore. The farther offshore it is, the lesser the impacts will be, but the impacts are going to happen no matter what."

The centre has issued a hurricane watch for south Florida, from Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard county line.

A tropical storm watch is also in effect from the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys north to south of Deerfield Beach, including Lake Okeechobee.

Florida governor Rick Scott has urged residents up and down the state's east coast to start preparing for "direct impacts" from the storm.

Mr Scott was in the Florida Keys on Tuesday for a briefing on the storm, urging residents to take warnings seriously as he said "we cannot rule out a direct hit".

He said heavy rain, spin-off tornadoes, high winds and beach erosion are among the concerns in Florida.

He asked residents to listen for directions from local officials and to "prepare for the worst and hope for the best".

Mr Scott and other officials are urging people to have at least a three-day supply of food, water and medicine on hand. Residents are also advised to fill their vehicles with fuel, and keep their mobile phones charged in case of power blackouts.

In South Carolina, the American Red Cross has issued a call for volunteers.

Spokeswoman Louise Welch Williams said the agency needs volunteers in the Charleston, Bluffton and Georgetown areas, with Hurricane Matthew forecast to hit early on Saturday.

The agency said it especially needs volunteers to assist with sheltering and feeding those who may be affected by the hurricane.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Nicole has formed in the Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Centre said the storm currently poses no threat to land, and is located about 525 miles north-west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It has maximum sustained winds of 50mph, with higher gusts.