A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has struck western Haiti, the United States Geological Survey said, prompting a tsunami alert and damaging buildings in the disaster-plagued Caribbean nation.
The epicentre of the quake on Saturday was about 160km (100 miles) by road from central Port-au-Prince, the densely populated capital, at a depth of 10km, the USGS said.The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also reported a quake in the region, saying it was magnitude 7.6.
The US Tsunami Warning System had initially said there was no tsunami warning issued after the quake.
The long shock was felt throughout Haiti and in neighbouring Caribbean countries, and material damage was recorded in the southwestern peninsula of the island.
Catastrophic M7.2 Earthquake - Haiti
H Turner
A catastrophic Magnitude 7.2 earthquake has struck Haiti
The 7.2 quake struck 12 km NE of Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti at a depth of 10km. The quake shattered roads, homes, businesses. Injuries and deaths are already being reported over a wide area.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake rated as a "9" on the Mercali modified shake scale, meaning the perceived shaking was "VIOLENT" and damage is expected to be "HEAVY."
Desperate pleas for help can be heard from people trapped beneath collapsed structures. Entire families are reported to be "wiped out."
Electricity, gas, and water supplies are cut off because pipes underground are smashed or cracked.
It is important to point out that a similar (but SMALLER) quake struck in 2010. That year the quake was a M7.0 and killed 200,000 people.
Today's quake was bigger.
This is a developing story . . . Check back for updates.
No comments:
Post a Comment