"The deep cause of this situation is the deforestation of Haiti," Latortue said at the summit of European and Latin American leaders in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"We have lost more than 80 percent of forest because people like to use wood charcoal as a source of energy," said Latortue, adding that the death toll in Haiti could rise to between 1,000 and 1,200 people.

Haitian officials had put the death toll at 579 with 74 missing. In the Dominican Republic, the toll was 372 dead and at least 352 missing. The two countries share the island of Hispaniola.

A UN spokeswoman said there were 1,500 dead or missing in Haiti alone.

"The number of deaths is difficult to determine because of the conditions under which the floods took place, with the electricity out at night," Latortue said.

"We can't go on like this," he said of the deforestation issue. "When I return I have plans to speak with the government to invite students in a re-forestation project."

TERRA.WIRE