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Photos: Hurricane Matthew’s deadly path through the Caribbean and toward the US

The high winds of Hurricane Matthew roar over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4.
The high winds of Hurricane Matthew roar over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4.
Image: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
By
Johnny Simon
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Hurricane Matthew, currently a Category 4 hurricane, ripped through the Caribbean Tuesday and early Wednesday, with its path on track to hit the Bahamas and parts of the eastern United States later this week. Eleven deaths have been associated with the storm, and evacuations are planned in South Carolina, the Associated Press reports. The United Nations has declared the storm, which is the strongest the region has seen in a decade, the worst humanitarian disaster to affect Haiti since its 2010 earthquake, Reuters reports.

As the storm was passing through the region, meteorologist Stu Ostero tweeted a satellite of the storm system, whose shape seemed a tad ominous.

The view on the ground:

People cross a bridge while Hurricane Matthew passes in Port-au-Prince
People cross a bridge while Hurricane Matthew passes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Oct. 4.
Image: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
People wade across a flooded street while Hurricane Matthew passes through Port-au-Prince on Oct. 4.
People wade across a flooded street while Hurricane Matthew passes through Port-au-Prince on Oct. 4.
Image: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
A man pushes a bicycle in a flood zone in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
A man pushes a bicycle in a flood zone in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
Image: Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares
People walk on the road as rain falls during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
People walk on the road as rain falls during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
Image: Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares
A view of trees damaged by the wind during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
A view of trees damaged by the wind during Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti on Oct. 4.
Image: Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares

The storm also struck parts of Cuba and Jamaica:

A view of partially destroyed banana trees at a road side after the passage of hurricane Matthew on the coast of Guantanamo province, Cuba on Oct. 5, 2016.
A view of partially destroyed banana trees at a road side after the passage of hurricane Matthew on the coast of Guantanamo province, Cuba on Oct. 5.
Image: Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini
The high winds of Hurricane Matthew roar over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4
The high winds of Hurricane Matthew roar over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4
Image: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
A resident runs in a flooded street as Hurricane Matthew roars over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4, 2016.
A resident runs in a flooded street as Hurricane Matthew roars over Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4.
Image: (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
Surf and wind from Hurricane Matthew crash on the waterfront in Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4, 2016.
Surf and wind from Hurricane Matthew crash on the waterfront in Baracoa, Cuba on Oct. 4.
Image: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

In the US, coastal dwellers began the process of securing their homes, stocking up on emergency supplies and for some, evacuating.

People line up to fill their cars with gas after South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley ordered a Wednesday afternoon evacuation of statewide coastal counties in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew in Myrtle Beach Oct. 4, 2016.
People line up to fill their cars with gas after South Carolina governor Nikki Haley ordered a Wednesday afternoon evacuation of statewide coastal counties in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew in Myrtle Beach.
Image: Reuters/Randall Hill
Gayle Brown fills up her car after waiting in line at a Sunoco gas station in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on Oct, 4, 2016 in advance of Hurricane Matthew which is expected to affect the South Carolina coast by the weekend. Gov. Nikki Haley announced Tuesday that, unless the track of the storm changes, the state will issue an evacuation order Wednesday to help get 1 million people inland from the coast.
Gayle Brown fills up her car after waiting in line at a Sunoco gas station in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, in advance of Hurricane Matthew which is expected to affect the South Carolina coast by the weekend. Gov. Nikki Haley announced Tuesday that, unless the track of the storm changes, the state will issue an evacuation order Wednesday to help get 1 million people inland from the coast.
Image: AP Photo/Mic Smith
Dean Legge (L), Steven Thigpen (R) and Graylan Coleman (C) help a relative remove furniture at a beachfront home in Garden City Beach, South Carolina, on Oct. 4.
Dean Legge (L), Steven Thigpen (R) and Graylan Coleman (C) help a relative remove furniture at a beachfront home along Waccamaw Drive in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew in Garden City Beach, South Carolina.
Image: Reuters/Randall Hill
Brent Scurry of Lake City, South Carolina, works to install window shutters at an ocean front home in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew in Garden City Beach.
Brent Scurry of Lake City, South Carolina, works to install window shutters at an ocean front home in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew in Garden City Beach.
Image: Reuters/Randall Hill
People line up to fill their LP propane gas cylinders in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew, in Coral Springs, Florida.
People line up to fill their LP propane gas cylinders in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew, in Coral Springs, Florida.
Image: Reuters/Henry Romero