One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in the past decade has hit the impoverished nation of Haiti.

Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm packing winds of 140mph, made landfall at the south-western tip near Les Anglais at about 8am.

According to international media reports, interim Haitian President Jocelerme Privert said at a news conference: “We’ve already seen deaths. People who were out at sea. There are people who are missing. They are people who didn’t respect the alerts. They’ve lost their lives.”

Speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday, Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Torgerson said Matthew is likely to be “a devastating rainmaker, with flooding and mudslides”.

Phillip Rego, the founder of Feed My Lambs Ministry, said the charity’s school, orphanage and clinic in Haiti stood better chances of withstanding Matthew than its neighbours — but the group was taking no chances.

“It looks like a potentially big threat to our area,” said Mr Rego, who is monitoring conditions from New York after helping with last-minute preparations over the weekend.

The compound in the seaside community of Montrouis is fortunately built of concrete, with a sturdy roof, he said.

“I’ve seen hurricanes down there. Everybody around it has tin roofs, and those things fly around like machetes.”

Mr Rego thanked Bermudians who had been sending messages of concern as Matthew, the region’s worst hurricane since Felix in 2007, bore down on the nation of 10.6 million.

The facility is expected to open its compound to shelter others once the storm abates.

Haiti, along with Jamaica, contended yesterday with heavy rains likely to turn torrential as the storm hits in the west, bringing up to 40 inches of precipitation — roughly a full metre. Floods are particularly hazardous in its mountainous and badly deforested terrain.

Eastern Cuba lies next in Matthew’s path, with the central Bahamas expected to take a Category 3 hit tomorrow.

Mr Torgerson said local weather watchers were confident that Matthew, predicted to head along the United States East Coast, would pass well to Bermuda’s west around Saturday morning.

“At that point we’re still looking at a good-sized storm, probably a Category 2.

“We don’t see much influence wind wise. The effects we see could be 9ft swells by Friday evening.”

In fact, a body of low pressure southeast of Bermuda is likely to have a greater effect on the island, as the approaching trough brings rain and possible thunderstorms later in the week.

Mr Torgerson cautioned that hurricanes can easily switch track, adding: “We can’t rule out the possibility of a further development of winds.”