Earthquake 7.3 hits Haiti

[ScottThuy 140]

An earthquake registering 7.3 just hit the western edge of Haiti... Not alot of news about it yet as it just happened...

[ScottThuy 140]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...sV2&s_name=

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A strong earthquake has hit the impoverished country of Haiti, where a hospital has collapsed and people are screaming for help.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. It occurred Tuesday afternoon and was centred about 14 miles (22 kilometres) west of the Caribbean nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.

An Associated Press videographer saw the collapsed hospital in Petionville.

No further details are immediately available.

According to CNN the area is also under a Tsunami alert.

Edited January 12, 2010 by ScottThuy

[Amby 490]

:o my friend runs an orphanage there. i'm sure i won't get through but i'm going to try to call her.

[Amby 490]

I just spoke to my friend's sister. She said they can't get ahold of anyone at the orphanage, but they do know the market down the street completely collapsed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We are going to see this more and more as the earth cools.

[The_Dude 1,142]

We are going to see this more and more as the earth cools.

Gary, do you really need to be such a fvcking douche?

[trinket 30]

Thats a strong earthquake. I hope your friend makes it safe Amby

[ScottThuy 140]

Not just strong but shallow in the ground meaning more damage.. the sky is reported to be a dark gray due to the dust in the air... 2 aftershocks of 5+ have hit since...

[christeen 966]

Haiti's ambassador to the US says a "catastrophe of major proportions" is unfolding in his country this morning after a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit near the capital Port-Au-Prince.

Reports describe mass panic as buildings collapsed, leaving dead and injured people trapped under the rubble.

The epicentre of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, 16 kilometres from the capital, and was a shallow 10km deep, intensifying the chances of major damage.

Reuters reporter Joseph Guyler Delva says he saw dozens of people apparently dead or injured lying under rubble, which blocked roads.

"Everything started shaking, people were screaming, houses started collapsing... it's total chaos," he said

The national director of World Vision in Haiti, Frank Williams, is just outside Port-Au-Prince.

"People are screaming all around and walls from buildings and private residences have fallen into the streets, so that has pretty much blocked off most of the traffic," he said.

"We have some aftershocks that we've experienced... people are wailing... [are] very frightened. Most of the people are out on the streets."

The earthquake hit at 4.53pm (local time) in an extremely populated area. A US Geological Survey official told CNN that significant casualties were expected.

Haiti's ambassador to the US Raymond Alcide Joseph told CNN he was heartbroken as he had just spoken by telephone with a senior presidential aide who described scenes of chaos and devastation.

"He had to stop his car just about half an hour ago, and take to the streets, start walking, but he said houses were crumbling on the right side of the street and the left side of the street," Mr Joseph said.

"He does not know whether he would reach his home, not knowing what he would find, because he had a bridge to cross to get there."

Palace collapses

The presidential palace in Port-Au-Prince collapsed and many other public buildings across the capital were destroyed, Haitian television streaming online reported Tuesday.

"The presidential palace, the finance ministry, the ministry of public works, the ministry of communication and culture," were all affected by the quake, a Haitian reporter said, adding that the parliament building and a cathedral in the capital were also crumbling.

A Miami Herald journalist says President Rene Preval has escaped.

Save The Children spokesman Ian Rogers was in the capital when it the quake hit.

"People are very distressed," he said. "There is a lot of distress and wailing of people trying to find loved ones trapped under buildings.

"Houses have fallen down and slipped down hills. Port-Au-Prince is built on a hillside," he said.

"All the roads are blocked, unfortunately now it is dark. All power seems to be out in Port-Au-Prince and some are using their own generators."

Mr Rogers is worried about people's safety.

"I can only imagine the response is going to be very difficult for the Haitian authorities," he said. "But unfortunately as its dark, Haiti is going to face security issues."

An AFP correspondent said the ground shook for more than a minute.

Another AFP correspondent in Petionville said one three-storey building was toppled, and a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets in panic. The up-scale area is home to many foreign diplomats and members of a major United Nations mission to the country.

"Just experienced a MAJOR earthquake here in Port au Prince - walls were falling down. - we are ALL fine - pray for those in the slums," Twitter user Troy Livesay wrote this morning.

Other reports say at least one hospital has collapsed.

The USA says landline and mobile phone communications have been knocked out by the earthquake.

The shocks were felt at the US base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba but there have been no reports of any injuries outside Haiti.

US President Barack Obama issued a statement saying the US "stood ready" to help the people of Haiti.

The quake was followed by at least two weaker aftershocks.

A major earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage.

A tsunami warning was issued but was later cancelled, but a small tsunami was measured.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

[ScottThuy 140]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=236590

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Duplicate threads merged

[myjamwifey 2]

i pray for all the haitians and significant others on the island. my wife is a jamaican and she mentioned that tremors were felt in jamaican this afternoon. wow, i thank God that it wasnt worse in ja. i am going crazy for i cant wait to be with my wife after the interview date feb 25. hurryyyyyyyyyyyyy

[ScottThuy 140]

Hoping for no large waves created as a result...

[trinket 30]

Tsunami watch has been lifted according to BBC

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, a tsunami watch was put out for Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas, but this was later lifted.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The Presidential Palace n Port-au-Prince before and after. If that structure crumbled like that, it's not hard to see that regular buildings in this poor nation had little chance of holding up. Tragic.