Haiti earthquake: 7.2-magnitude shock leaves 227 dead as officials fear fatalities could stretch to thousands
A major earthquake struck western Haiti on Saturday morning and was felt across the Caribbean.
Authorities report that at least 227 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds more are wounded or missing. The prime minister has declared a state of emergency.
People fled their homes for fear that buildings might collapse when the magnitude 7.2 tremor struck at approximately 8.30am.
A 5.2 magnitude aftershock was also recorded about 20 minutes after the initial shaking, several smaller shocks followed.
The epicentre of the quake was 8km (5 miles) from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, about 150km west of the capital Port-au-Prince. Two hotels in the town of Les Cayes have collapsed and hospitals are overwhelmed.
Haiti is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010 much nearer the densely populated capital that is believed to have killed as many as 300,000 people.
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Key points
- 227 confirmed dead by authorities
- Haitian PM declares state of emergency
- Video: Mass damage and panic in Haiti after 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Caribbean
- Tropical Storm Grace heading towards Haiti
- Quake is bigger than 2010 tremor that devastated country
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Tsunami threat issues for Haiti following
quake15:33 , Oliver O'ConnellA tsunami threat has been issued for Haiti following this morning’s earthquake.Waves could reach between one and three metres in height above tide level on some coasts.There is no threat to US coastal areas.
First images emerge on social media
15:34 , Oliver O'ConnellPictures of rubble-strewn streets and collapsed buildings have appeared on social media.
Quake is bigger than 2010 tremor that devastated country
15:43 , Oliver O'Connell
Today’s earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 making it stronger than the 7.0 quake that devastated the country in 2010 leaving hundreds of thousands dead and flattening large parts of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Here’s our coverage of the tragedy eleven and half years ago.
Earthquake in Haiti: Gone in 30 seconds
USGS: ‘high casualties’ predicted
15:53 , Oliver O'ConnellThe US Geological Survey predicts that “high casualties” are likely and the damage is widespread following this morning’s 7.2 magnitude tremor.
There is no official word yet on any number of fatalities or injuries.
The agency also predicts that economic losses could amount to three per cent of Haiti’s gross domestic product.
Epicentre in the west of the country
16:02 , Oliver O'ConnellThe epicentre of the earthquake was in the west of the country 8km (5 miles) from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, about 150km west of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Accounts from Port-a-Prince
16:11 , Oliver O'ConnellFirsthand accounts are emerging from Haiti.
From the Associated Press:
Naomi Verneus, a 34-year-old resident of Port-au-Prince, said she was jolted awake by the earthquake and that her bed was shaking.
“I woke up and didn’t have time to put my shoes on. We lived the 2010 earthquake and all I could do was run. I later remembered my two kids and my mother were still inside. My neighbor went in and told them to get out. We ran to the street,” Verneus said.
From Reuters:
“In my neighborhood, I heard people screaming. They were flying outside,” said Port-au-Prince resident Sephora Pierre Louis, adding she was still in a state of shock. “At least they know to go outside. In 2010, they didn’t know what to do. People are still outside in the street.”
Tropical Storm Grace is also bearing down on Haiti
16:15 , Oliver O'ConnellComplicating any recovery effort is the fact that the earthquake has struck during the height of the hurricane season.
The US National Hurricane Center has forecasted that Tropical Storm Grace will reach Haiti late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Video of rescue attempts
16:18 , Oliver O'Connell
People are climbing through the rubble trying to rescue trapped family and friends in the latest video out of Haiti.
Quake felt across the Caribbean
16:24 , Oliver O'Connell“Everyone is really afraid. It’s been years since such a big earthquake,” Daniel Ross, a resident in the eastern Cuban city of Guantanamo told Reuters. He added that his home stood firm but the furniture shook.
Cuban authorities said there were no reports yet of material damage, deaths, or injuries.
In Kingston, Jamaica, Danny Bailey told Reuters: “I feel it, man. It wake me up. My roof kind of make some noise.”
Tsunami threat in Haiti over
16:26 , Oliver O'ConnellThe tsunami threat warning for Haiti issued after the earthquake has now passed and there is no further threat.
Waves up to three metres high were deemed a possibility.
Six aftershocks recorded so far
16:35 , Oliver O'ConnellThere have been six aftershocks recorded since the main magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
Video: Mass damage and panic in Haiti after 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Caribbean
16:40 , Oliver O'ConnellEarthquake aftermath will add to unrest in Haiti
16:51 , Oliver O'ConnellSaturday morning’s earthquake struck just over a month after the assassination of Haiti’s president Jovenel Moïse, which has thrown the country into chaos and uncertainty.
Justin Vallejo wrote a briefing about what happened in the capital Port-au-Prince in early July.
Later in July more than 1,000 demonstrators have gathered around one of Haiti’s most notorious gang leaders to commemorate the slain president.
Haitian prime minister travelling to impacted area
17:09 , Oliver O'Connell
Dr Ariel Henry, prime minister of Haiti, is travelling to the affected areas to assess the damage.
He tweeted: “Following the earthquake which caused enormous damage in the South, Grand’Anse, and Nippes, I have already mobilized the entire government team to urgently adopt all the necessary measures.”
“I go there, with the proper authorities, in the hours that follow to assess the situation as a whole.”
Fallen walls, collapsed roofs, and crushed cars litter the streets
17:21 , Oliver O'Connell
‘This country just never finds a break!'
17:32 , Oliver O'Connell
From Reuters:
The earthquake comes as Haiti is already mired in intertwined political, humanitarian, and security crises.
The government is in turmoil, a month after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, while swaths of the country are facing growing hunger, and healthcare services are overwhelmed by Covid-19. Access to the southern region, where the quake struck, has been restricted by gang control of key areas.
“This country just never finds a break! Each year of mismanagement did not hurt but the cumulative effects made us vulnerable to everything,” said Haitian entrepreneur Marc Alain Boucicault on Twitter.
“Its going to take years to fix things and we have not even started!”
Unicef on standby to help in Haiti
17:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Unicef Latin America tweeted: “We’re concern and deeply saddened by the news of today’s strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. @UNICEFHaiti is on standby to provide support to communities and the Government. We stand in solidarity during this difficult time.”
Damage in town of Cavaillon near epicentre
17:59 , Oliver O'Connell
Haitian entrepreneur Marc Alain Boucicault has tweeted images of the damage in the town in Cavaillon, near the epicentre of the earthquake.
Reference: Independent: