Haiti Shaken By Massive Quake

Haiti was shaken violently by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake at 16:53 local (2153 GMT), the US Geological Survey confirmed. This is the most powerful earthquake to hit Haiti in around 2 centuries, and was centered approximately 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Port-au-Prince is full of concrete-block homes which line up the steep hillsides. There were also 3 aftershocks of magnitude 5.9, 5.5 and 5.1. Then again there were around 10 more aftershocks of lesser force. The earthquake took place just 6 miles underground, a depth that is considered very close to the ground surface, and capable of causing unimaginable damage. Landlines and cell phone lines went down, and communication was hit badly. A hospital is said to have collapsed completely, and houses just tumbled into ravines. The presidential palace was also badly damaged, but it has been confirmed that the president is safe.

Witnesses recalled how they saw houses and buildings simply collapse. The earthquake resulted in a tsunami alert for the Caribbean islands and Florida, though that alert has been put off now. As of now, it is unknown how many people are dead, but the number could be anywhere in thousands. The earthquake was even felt as far as Cuba. The Haiti government is supported by a UN peacekeeping mission, and its headquarters in Port-au-Prince is said to have collapsed.

Haiti's ambassador to the US, Raymond Alcide Joseph, described the earthquake as "catastrophe of major proportions." Frank Williams, the Haitian director of the relief agency World Vision International, said, "The quake left people pretty much screaming all around Port-au-Prince. The agency's building shook for about 35 seconds, and portions of things on the building fell off. None of our staff were injured, but lots of walls are falling down. Many of our staff have tried to leave, but were unsuccessful because the walls from buildings and private residences are falling into the streets, so that it has pretty much blocked significantly most of the traffic."

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with a population of around 9 million. More than 80% of Haiti's population lives below the poverty line, and Port-au-Prince is densely populated with very poor construction of houses. President Barack Obama has pledged complete support to Haiti and said that the US will help in rescue and relief efforts as much as possible.