BBC corrects report on Haiti flooding death toll after overstating fatalities amid Hurricane Melissa coverage

The BBC has corrected an earlier update on the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, after initially reporting that 40 people had died in flooding linked to Hurricane Melissa. The figure, attributed to the Associated Press (AP), has since been revised downward to 23.

The misreported figure appeared in a Breaking News update published at 19:05 on 29 October, during rolling coverage of the storm’s impact across the Caribbean. The post stated that “40 people in Haiti had died,” citing AP’s early reporting. Subsequent updates from AP clarified that the confirmed toll was 23 fatalities, including 10 children, with rescue operations still ongoing.

The BBC later amended its coverage to reflect the correction, noting:

“An earlier version of this post quoted AP’s reporting that 40 people in Haiti had died. AP has since revised that number to 23.”

While such revisions are common during fast-moving disaster coverage, the change halved the reported death toll, significantly altering perceptions of the storm’s immediate impact.

Haiti’s government has not yet issued an official nationwide casualty figure, but the Agence France-Presse (AFP) earlier reported 20 deaths, suggesting that AP’s initial estimate was based on preliminary or unverified local sources.

Meteorologists say Hurricane Melissa has caused catastrophic flooding across parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, cutting power, washing away bridges, and displacing thousands.

The BBC’s correction ensures alignment with verified data but also underscores the challenge of real-time reporting amid crises, where early figures are often fluid and may unintentionally amplify the scale of tragedy before confirmation.