This isn't directly volcano-related, but the USGS (and CNN) are reporting that a 7.0 earthquake just occurred in Haiti. Looking at the map, it seems that it epicentered only 10 miles/15 kilometers from Port Au Prince, the biggest city in Haiti. The earthquake was at 10 km depth - so a fairly shallow earthquake related to the complex transform faulting along the boundary of the Caribbean and Atlantic plates. A Tsunani Watch has been issued for the Caribbean as well - but the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center believes that the only effects will be local (within 100 km) of Hispaniola.
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« Turriabla mini-update for 1/11/2010 | Main | Wednesday Whatzits: Haiti, Tungurahua erupts, Martian lava flows and a pile of updates »
7.0 Earthquake in Haiti
Category: Haiti • seismicity
Posted on: January 12, 2010 5:33 PM, by Erik Klemetti
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2
This is really horrible for the people of Haiti. They are a country of little resource, no trees/wood to rebuild infrastructure. The social aftermath of this earthquake is going to be huge.
4
I live in Santo Domingo and I felt it perfectly, but luckily nothing broke or fell down where I was. It felt like someone was shaking the chair i was sitting in with a very.... flowy motion... very odd.
5
Haiti and natural disasters... As if the country doesn't have enough problems to deal with already. Port-au-Prince has nearly 1.7 million inhabitants, and the arrondissement of Port-au-Prince has more than 2.1 million inhabitants. This is going to be in the headlines for at least some days I'm afraid...
6
This is very tragic, as Haiti is very ill-equipped to deal with it. I had been in Haiti numerous times back in the 80's, before the following decades of political unrest. Even then there was grinding poverty and only rudimentary infrastructure and government services. Haitians are a very resourceful, resilient and proud people but they willneed the help of other nations to deal with this tragedy.
7
CNN is on top of this (and doing a decent job), but Fox and MSNBC have decided not to interrupt O'Rielly and Olbermann.
Sad proof that cable news is about pundits and egos.
8
I just checked the news on this quake. The presidential palace, other government buildings, the National Cathedral, and many other buildings have collapsed. This has been a major disaster for the people of Haiti. They will definitely need help and a lot of it. There is no word yet on the US embassy, but the building across from it collapsed.
Haiti has been hit very hard by hurricanes in the recent past and the last one caused a loss of 70% of their crops. This is just tragic for them. I know if they get the help they need, they will be able to cope. It is just sad they have to go through this.
Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
9
Thank you, Erik, for posting this information. I've been an avid reader of your blog as a layperson interested in volcanoes so when I got home tonight and checked my bookmark I learned about this horrific incident.
I sponsor a child in the Dominican Republic through World Vision and have several friends who sponsor children in Haiti. We pray that they and their families are alright. I've read that the Canadian government has pledged support and can only hope they deliver swift help in the most practical of ways.
10
Haiti has been devastated by a 7.0 earthquake. Many collapsed buildings (including U.N. headquarters there and the hospital in Port-au-Prince). Extensive coverage on Rachel Maddow tonight.
In a poignant plea for help from the international community, the Haitian ambassador said tonight on Rachel Maddow's show that we should send our money to relief organizations who already have people and infrastructure on the ground. Not known yet if the airport is usable; CNN reports the control tower is down. I can't find any mention of shipping/docks/water ingress.
I took a look at the organizations available, and I've chosen Direct Relief International; they seem to have a fairly robust infrastructure in-country (4 hospitals, several clinics, supply chain in place already). They bring supplies in by container ship; two of these arrived earlier today. Greg Laden has independently sussed this org out too and is also recommending it.
My other idea for a choice, Doctors Without Borders, reports damage to their medical facility and injuries to patients and staff.
Time to get out the debit/credit cards, folks. Haitians have had enough to bear without this catastrophe. The loss of life is going to be heartbreaking; we've got to help get supplies in to help the survivors and miniminize the death toll as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (10)
It sounds like it might be pretty bad .... collapsed hospital, other damage, and so on.
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 12, 2010 6:18 PM