High Fatalities Expected After Powerful 7.2-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Haiti
Earlier this Saturday, a major earthquake struck western Haiti, sending shock waves across the Caribbean, where people rushed out of their homes out of fear that buildings might collapse, and sparking a regional tsunami warning.
Initial reports stated that a 7.0 magnitude quake hit. But according to updated reports by Reuters citing the U.S. Geological Survey, it was a magnitude 7.2 quake that struck 8 km (5 miles) from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, which is about 150 km west of the capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 km.
While there were no official reports yet in Haiti of injuries or deaths, images posted online show massive damage to properties. Government officials are still trying to assess the damage in Haiti following the strong early morning quake.
Jerry Chandler, Haiti’s director of civil protection, also confirmed deaths had occurred but said he doesn’t “yet have an exact toll. “We’re still collecting information,” he told AFP.
More heartbreaking 💔 images coming from locals in Les Cayes, Haiti 🇭🇹 of the devastating 7.2 quake #earthquake pic.twitter.com/J6UIyNUd6B
— Calvin Hughes (@CalvinWPLG) August 14, 2021
As it was noted, this earthquake was said to be bigger and shallower than the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti 11 years ago, killing tens if not hundreds of thousands of people, flattening buildings and leaving many homeless. We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops.
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