Haitians awoke this morning, January 13th to a capital city, Port-au-Prince, largely in ruins following an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 in the evening before. There were at least 30 aftershocks for several hours after the major quake, adding to the devastation and uncertainty.
The Red Cross is estimating that some 3 million people could be affected.
According to early reports, buildings every where have fallen and fires burned through the night. Every major landmark in the capital has collapsed and the Presidential Palace which was badly damaged.
The USAID is heading to Haiti and some 48 tons of equipment and aid are being mobilized. There are huge challenges to getting the rescue efforts underway owing to the lack of communications. It is being reported that there is some damage to the main airport and this could complicate emergency efforts.
Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States, Ramond Alcide Joseph indicated on CNN this morning that most government officials are alright, as government buildings collapsed after employees had left for their homes prior to when the quake occurred.
Local rescuers and the military worked through the night pulling people from fallen buildings.
It is much too early to indicate the number of casualties in Haiti, but it is expected that there is serious loss of life which could be in the hundreds, if not thousands.
The US State Department has set up a hot line that families of US residents in Haiti could call for information. It is: 1-888-407-4747.
