Posted on 01/12/2010 3:12:39 PM PST by NYer
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A strong earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday, where a hospital collapsed and people were screaming for help. Other buildings also were damaged.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, but an analyst at the U.S. Geological Survey said there could be substantial damage and casualties. Powerful aftershocks were felt in the first hour.
The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west from the Caribbean nation's capital of Port-au-Prince, the USGS said. It had a depth of 5 miles (8 kilometers).
An Associated Press videographer saw the wrecked hospital in Petionville, near Port-au-Prince, and a U.S. government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.
No further details on any causualties or other damage were immediately available.
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.
Blakeman said Haiti had already been hit by many aftershocks, the two largest registering magnitude 5.9 and 5.5.
"We expect more aftershocks because this is a large, shallow earthquake," 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.
Another USGS analyst, Dale Grant, said this was "the largest quake recorded in this area." He said the last strong quake was a magnitude-6.7 temblor in 1984.
"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture visiting Haiti. "The sky is just gray with dust."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I also work with people from the Dominican Republic. Was that affected?
Ping to # 19
Tens of thousands???...
Dear God...
The quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, and some panicked residents in the capital of Santo Domingo fled from their shaking homes. But no major damage was reported there.
"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.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake
Thnak God, at least the tsunami watch has been dropped.
My prayers for the poor, devastated people.
This is going to be just horrible...just heard there are 2 MILLION people who live in Port au Prince.
CNN covering live.
Yes, it’s already a terribly impoverished country and now this.
Prayers lifted.
Thanks....wow ...a dust bowl...
This is a medical group that some local doctors staff and many people here sponsor. It’s one of the good ones. From the stories the doctors tell, even simple treatments are miracles to those in Haiti. May help be on the way soon.
Haiti was already politically and financially a “failed state” before this quake. Chances for its future were already bleak. Now what???
Thanks for the Ping, Fanfan.
Earthquake Ping List.
If you wish to be removed from the Earthquake Ping List or added to it, please FReepmail me.
You’re welcome bd476.
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