Tough Time! Hurricane Matthew: Struggle to reach worst-hit parts of Haiti as Florida braces for storm’s arrival

Rescue workers in Haiti are fighting to reach parts of the nation cut off by the strongest Caribbean hurricane in almost a decade.

The destruction wrought by Hurricane Matthew has forced Haiti’s presidential election this weekend officials say.

Thousands have been displaced and at least 10 people have perished.

All air and sea traffic was stopped on the islands and individuals have been encouraged to go to higher ground.

Matthew battered a distant region of Haiti – among the world’s poorest nations, with many residents living in flimsy housing in flood-prone places – with winds of up to 230km/h (145mph) on Tuesday.

We only began to see the real destructive power of Hurricane Matthew once we moved towards the south west of the state.

Trees banana crops uprooted and flattened, houses under water and men and women trying to get the debris out of the way.

It was noticeable how a people we passed were making do alone. There were no army or police about to help. Even the aid agencies are struggling to move around this damaged corner of the nation.