Haiti: Many deaths feared after major 7.2-magnitude earthquakeon August 14, 2021 at 3:11 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

A 7.2-magnitude quake hits the Caribbean nation, which is still recovering from the devastation of 2010.

Map of the epicenter

A powerful earthquake has struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti.

The 7.2-magnitude quake hit the west of the country, with its epicentre about 12km (7.5 miles) from the town of Saint-Louis du Sud, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Officials told reporters there had been fatalities, but the toll is unclear. Images on social media showed buildings reduced to rubble.

Haiti is still recovering from a devastating 2010 earthquake.

The USGS said Saturday’s quake was recorded at a depth of about 10km. Its epicentre was some 150km from the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince.

The earthquake was felt across much of the Caribbean.

“I can confirm that there are deaths, but I don’t yet have an exact toll,” Jerry Chandler, Haiti’s director of civil protection, told AFP news agency.

“Lots of homes are destroyed, people are dead and some are at the hospital,” Christella Saint Hilaire, who lives near the epicentre, told reporters.

Naomi Verneus, a 34-year-old resident of the capital Port-au-Prince, told the Associated Press news agency she was woken up 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 neighbour went in and told them to get out. We ran to the street,” she said.

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and the economy.

Saturday’s earthquake comes amid a political crisis in the country, following the assassination of its president last month.

People walk in a market as they go about their lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 24, 2021

Reuters

Haiti: Key facts

  • 11 millioninhabitants

  • 59%percentage who live below the poverty line

  • 2004-2017years in which a UN peacekeeping force was present

  • 200,000number of people killed in the 2010 earthquake

Source: BBC Monitoring

Short presentational grey line
Banner saying 'Get in touch'

Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can’t see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Autograph book found in dusty garage fetches £11k at auctionon January 22, 2022 at 5:05 pm

The book of cricketers' signatures, including WG Grace, smashed its valuation at auction.

How To Avoid Overpaying For Your Amazon Prime Membership

It's becoming increasingly apparent that people are using their memberships at Amazon.com and other similar web sites to make additional purchases at a discounted...

Japan: Four cabinet ministers quit over fundraising scandalon December 14, 2023 at 5:32 am

It is yet another blow for Fumio Kishida's government, whose approval ratings have plunged to a record low.Image source, Getty ImagesBy Kelly NgBBC News,...

Why Tanzanian Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah is hardly known back homeon November 8, 2021 at 12:35 am

Few of Abdulrazak Gurnah's novels are sold in Tanzania where reading fiction is not popular.

Deadly new quakes trap people under rubble in Turkeyon February 21, 2023 at 1:27 am

At least three people die in the new tremors, weeks after massive quakes devastated the same region.This video can not be playedTo play this...