Haiti has postponed its upcoming presidential election after Hurricane Matthew tore through the Caribbean island, leaving 22 dead and the country in a state of emergency.
The storm’s 145-mile-per-hour winds severely damaged the southwest part of the country, prompting the Provision Electoral Council to indefinitely suspend the Sunday election. Twenty-seven candidates had been in the running after last year’s election outcome was annulled after a special commission uncovered fraud in ballot procedures.
Electoral Council Chief Leopold Berlanger hopes to announce a new date next week, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. has dispatched nine military helicopters to Haiti and up to 200 military personnel to assist with recovery efforts.
