HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

January 13, 2010. Thousands feared dead in Haiti following 7.0 quake

SOURCE: Corporate Risk International

Some 3 million people are believed to have been affected and thousands are believed dead after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince around 4:50pm local time on January 12th. The earthquake was followed by two strong aftershocks, dozens of small tremors, and sparked a tsunami alert for Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. It is expected to take several days before damages from the quake can be accurately assessed.

Dozens of buildings, including a hospital, a hotel popular with tourists, the UN mission headquarters building, and the presidential palace, collapsed during the quake. Authorities say the head of the UN peacekeeping mission is feared dead and at least four Brazilian, three Jordanian, and eight Chinese peacekeeping soldiers have been confirmed dead.

Power services and fixed-line and mobile telephone services were cut following the earthquake and have not yet been repaired in most parts of Port-au-Prince. On the ground reports indicate that police and rescue response has been limited, with many neighborhoods reportedly receiving no response. Looting was reported overnight in several neighborhoods, and with police and peacekeeping capabilities severely overwhelmed, unrest is expected to escalate in coming days and thousands are homeless and hungry.