7.0 Earthquake hits Haiti

[Nancy1340]

Many casualties expected after big quake in Haiti
         
 Strong earthquake hits Haiti  7.0 quake hits impoverished Haiti, hospital collapses 7.3 Quake Shakes And Rattles Haiti CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles By JONATHAN M. KATZ, Associated Press Writer Jonathan M. Katz, Associated Press Writer – 16 mins ago PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The largest earthquake ever recorded in the area shook Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing a hospital where people screamed for help. Other buildings also were damaged and scientists said they expected "substantial damage and casualties."

With communications disrupted there were no reports of deaths or injuries soon after the quake, as powerful aftershocks shook the country.

The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It had a depth of 5 miles (8 kilometers). It was the largest quake recorded in the area, said USGS analyst Dale Grant, and the last major one since a magnitude-6.7 temblor in 1984.

An Associated Press videographer saw the wrecked hospital in Petionville, a hillside Port-au-Prince district that is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians. Elsewhere, a U.S. government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.

Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph, said from his Washington office that he spoke to President Rene Preval's chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, just after the quake hit. He said Longchamp told him that "buildings were crumbling right and left" near the national palace. He said he has not gotten through by phone to Haiti since.

Don Blakeman, an analyst at the USGS in Golden, Colorado, said such a strong quake carried the potential for widespread damage.

"I think we are going to see substantial damage and casualties," he said.

The quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. Some panicked residents in the capital of Santo Domingo fled from their shaking homes.

In eastern Cuba, houses shook but no major damage was immediately reported.

"We felt it very strongly and I would say for a long time. We had time to evacuate," said Monsignor Dionisio Garcia, archbishop of Santiago.

In Haiti, the extent of the damage was unclear.

"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official visiting Haiti. "The sky is just gray with dust."

Bahn said he was walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake.

"I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."

Bahn said there were rocks strewn about and he saw a ravine where several homes had stood: "It's just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire."

The U.S. National Weather Service issued a tsunami watch for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, but said historically the region has seen few destructive tsunamis.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said U.S. officials were holding emergency meetings.

"We need to gather what information we can quickly. We will of course assist in any way we can," he said.

Felix Augustin, Haiti's consul general in New York, said he was concerned about everyone in Haiti, including his relatives.

"Communication is absolutely impossible," he said. "I've been trying to call my ministry and I cannot get through. ... It's mind-boggling."

[deadserious]

No Tsunami warnings for Belize?

[klcman]

all watches cancelled about 7:45PM EST

[Phil]

Look at the size of that...glug glug glu...............

[peterbj7]

Official casualty numbers have risen from "a few hundred" to "over 100,000".  Truly awful, and for such a grindingly poor country.

[klcman]

Where are you reading that Peter?  Online souces I have read indicate there is no official number, but it "could" extend beyond 100k, eventually. 

Poor souls............

[clover]

AP reports there could be as many as 500,000 dead.  The USS Carl Vinson (The Chuckie V....(for chuck wagon)) , as well as other US naval ships are steaming that way and will be there tomorrow.  

Here's a more detailed article from AP posted on MSNBC (more socialist news by communists)......I've also read that Venezuela is responding with aid and workers also.  Hugo never misses a chance for some free press.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34832613/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/

[peterbj7]

I'm following English online papers - Telegraph, Times, BBC news.  All mentioned 100,000, but I think it was the Times that said it could be more than that.  I haven't seen mention of 500,000, but if that's true this is a major world-scale humanitarian crisis.

You may have spotted that the local UN building collapsed, apparently killing everyone inside.  Though luckily it seems that most were outside, and if I remember correctly the number missing presumed under rubble is 7.  Doesn't help with coordinating aid.

If Haiti was so badly hit, what about neighbouring countries?  Isn't the Dominican Republic also on the island of Hispaniola?

[clover]

It's kind of interesting how this news is reported from different areas

China makes no reference to aid from the EU or the US

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/13/content_12802120.htm

News from Cuba asserts that Venezuela was the first responder, ignoring helicopters previously sent from Guantanamo by the US

http://www.escambray.cu/Eng/world/haiti1001131058

Fox...at the very end of their article notes that Iran sends its condolences!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/13/spearheads-global-response-haiti-earthquake/

The voice of America touts the UN...with a brief note that Britain, the US and Venezuela is also planning to send aid

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/americas/International-Agencies-Mobilize-Aid-For-Haiti-81314982.html

And last but not least the Canadians report that everyone is sending aid ....except the US ........no wonder those poor brainwashed citizens move to Belize!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j3BlNy-rKOUgRu7XjHDbUK556NEg

[Otteralum]

clover, that is as good a rundown I have seen that demonstrates how the media subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly) shapes public opinion

[tacoboy]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake.html

Countries pledge millions in aid

Worldwide relief efforts have begun in earnest, with countries pledging to provide aid, including rescue workers, doctors and supplies.

U.S. President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort, adding that the U.S. commitment to its hemispheric neighbour will be unwavering.

"We have to be there for them in their hour of need," Obama said.

A Homeland Security official also said the U.S. will halt the deportation of Haitians who are living illegally in the country in light of the earthquake. Those who were to be deported to Haiti will remain in U.S. detention centres for now.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada "stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Haiti during this time of need."

The government will deploy the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) — Canada's team of 200 Canadian Forces personnel, which provides help to areas affected by disaster for up to 40 days.

A 20-member reconnaissance team is due to land in Haiti on Wednesday afternoon to determine how best to assist the country, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon.

Other nations — from Iceland to Venezuela — said they would start sending aid workers and rescue teams. Cuba said its existing field hospitals in Haiti had already treated hundreds of victims. The United Nations said Port-au-Prince's main airport was "fully operational" and open to relief flights.

I guess it just depends on what you read in the end, and your preconceived notions. But hey, lets not let an opportunity go by to turn any issue into a political pissing match, no matter if it's a humanitarian disaster or not...

[Moose in Belize]

I thought Haiti was in a constant "time of need". This just makes it worse.

[2Aggies]

Haiti - tops list of worlds most corrupt countries
Haiti - 35-45% of governments annual budget is foreign aid.
Haiti - had $595 mil in foreign debt cancelled in 2009.
Haiti - the supposed "death squads" are the number 2 cause of death
Haiti - in a direct line for natural disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunami's, flooding rains

[clover]

I guess it just depends on what you read in the end, and your preconceived notions. But hey, lets not let an opportunity go by to turn any issue into a political pissing match, no matter if it's a humanitarian disaster or not...

It's kind of sad that you have to read half a dozen news articles, and piece them together before you get the "whole" story.  I loved the Cuba article the best.......even though Venezuela didn't approve of the existing government....they were going to send aid anyhow.  The present estimate is that there will be nearly 2 million people displaced, and countless in need of medical care.  It will takes billions to resolve the damage.  Just to repair the sewer, water, gas and electric services will take months....and where do these people go until then?

[Moose in Belize]

This situation is as close to hopeless as one could imagine. The Haitian people have limited ability to sustain themselves in the best of times. The adult illiteracy rate is reported to be in the area of 55% and the average income is US$400 per year. They have a limited tourist market for a reason. Throwing money at the problem will have limited impact. If large numbers of Haitian people were to be relocated, it would have to be to a similar environment and I'm not aware of any Caribbean islands with 500,000 empty houses and available food sources. It never ceases to amaze me that many of these natural disasters strike tropical countries that are overpopulated and poverty stricken.