PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – THE Red Cross has estimated that three million Haitians were affected by a 7.0 earthquake that struck the impoverished nation yesterday afternoon (Jan. 12) just before 5:00 p.m.
According to reports from the Associated Press, dozens of persons were trapped under tons of rubble brought down by the massive earthquake, and others were observed looking for family members amidst the destruction.
Thousands of buildings were damaged throughout the capital city of Port-au-Prince, covering the sidewalk with debris and resulting in a cloud of grey dust covering the sky. The UN headquarters and the National Presidential Palace were among the wrecked and collapsed structures.
The epicentre of the quake was located 10 miles from Port-au-Prince, with the initial impact prompting a tsunami watch for Haiti and neighbouring Caribbean islands, which was later lifted. Several aftershocks could be felt over the next hour, with the strongest recorded at a magnitude of 5.9.
The quake was felt in nearby countries such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, but no major injuries or destruction have been reported from those areas.
Downed communication lines and a widespread blackout made it difficult for relief and media workers to ascertain the extent of the damage, but thousands are believed to be dead. Representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations stated that large numbers of their staff were missing, while many persons were forced to sleep outside in the dark.
Countries around the world, including the US, Venezuela and the UK, are preparing to dispatch disaster response teams to the ravaged Caribbean island. The World Food Programme is flying in two planes with emergency food aid and the Inter-American Development Bank said it was immediately approving a US$200 000 grant.
Haiti’s 10 million people are among the poorest in the world, with as much as 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The country’s history has been marked by violence, instability and natural disasters, the most recent of which were four storms that left over 800 dead in the summer of 2008.
As communication lines are restored and aid workers gain access to the country, a clearer view of the situation is expected.
