Storm death toll in Haiti exceeds 500

ZURICH (AFP) - The death toll in Haiti from Tropical Storm Hanna has exceeded 500 and is growing by the hour, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Saturday.

“The toll is increasing hourly,” an OCHA official told AFP, adding that “according to information from the government (in Port-au-Prince) we have reached more than 500 deaths.”

Previous reports said at least 163 people had been killed during the passage of Hanna, which deluged Haiti early this week just eight days after Hurricane Gustav caused around 77 deaths.