Thousands flee, prepare as strong storm lashes Haiti

Haitians living in vulnerable coastal shacks frantically sought shelter as the strongest Caribbean storm in nine years, Hurricane Matthew, closed in on the southwestern peninsula, sending storm surges, wind and rain into seaside towns.

Matthew, a violent Category 4 storm packing 230 kph winds, was due to pound the western tip of Haiti early on Tuesday, the US National Hurricane Center said.

The center said in an advisory on Tuesday that "life-threatening rain, wind and storm surges" began to spread over portions of the country.