MEXICO CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A major earthquake rocked Haiti on Tuesday and "catastrophic" casualties were feared although no official reports are currently available.
This image obtained courtesy of the US Geological Survey (USGS) illustrates the intensity of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The magnitude-7.0 quake, the strongest ever recorded in the area, collapsed a hospital in a hillside district of Port-au-Prince, according to local media reports.
The presidential palace, buildings of the finance and public works ministries, the parliament building and a cathedral in Port-au-Prince were also damaged.
The earthquake struck at about 4:53 p.m. local time (2153 GMT) and was centered 15 km southwest of the capital city, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The quake was relative shallow with its focus at a depth of only 10 km, said the USGS. It said the earthquake was followed by a tsunami seven minutes later and two aftershocks of 5.9-and 5.5-degrees respectively.
Power supplies were cut off in affected areas and communications were interrupted.
Picture taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the damaged Presidential Palace in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. A major earthquake rocked Haiti on Tuesday and "catastrophic" casualties were feared although no official reports are currently available. (Xinhua/Radioteleginenhaiti.com) Photo Gallery>>>
Many buildings were damaged, and frightened people could be seen in the streets -- many were searching for their families and relatives from under the rubbles with bare hands, witnesses said.
"I think it's really a catastrophe of major proportions," Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Raymond Alcide Joseph, told Cable News Network.
The United Nations on Tuesday night confirmed that the Headquarters of the UN Mission in Haiti was seriously damaged along with other UN installations and "a large number of personnel remain unaccounted for."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "very concerned" for the people of Haiti and also for many UN staff who serve in the country, a UN statement said here Tuesday.
"At this time of tragedy, I am very concerned for the people of Haiti and also for the many United Nations staff who serve there," the secretary-general said. "I am receiving initial reports and following developments closely."
The earthquake was also felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares the Espanola Island with Haiti.
The Dominican Republic has asked for assistance to Haiti.
"The information we have is that the situation in Haiti is difficult, so we ask Latin America and all the world to help our neighbor," said Dominican Republic presidential office spokesman Frafael Nunez.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday offered to assist Haiti the quake in the Caribbean country, which the United Nations said was the poorest in the Western hemisphere.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake. We are closely monitoring the situation and west and ready to assist the people of Haiti," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Hawaii that her department is gathering information about the condition on the ground in Haiti, and will do its part in providing assistance.
The Los Angeles County and an international aid group based in the area pledged assistance to Haiti.
The Los Angeles Fire Department planned to send about 60 firefighters to aid in the rescue operations. A local Catholic Relief group member said thousands of people could be killed in the earthquake.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced several hours after the quake that his government would immediately send assistance materials and a team of 50 relief experts to Port-au-Prince.
Scared people stand nearby a collapsed building after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Port-Au-Prince of Haiti, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The Tsunami Warning Center of the Pacific on Tuesday issued a tsunami alert for Haiti, Cuba, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, saying potential threats exist for coastal areas within 100 km to the epicenter.
A dozen or so aftershocks have been recorded and USGS experts have warned of more follow-up quakes.
Picture taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the damaged Presidential Palace in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. A major earthquake rocked Haiti on Tuesday and "catastrophic" casualties were feared although no official reports are currently available. (Xinhua/Radioteleginenhaiti.com) Photo Gallery>>>
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "very concerned" for the people of Haiti and also for many UN staff who serve in the small Caribbean country, which was jolted by a major earthquake, a UN statement said here Tuesday.
"My heart goes out to the people of Haiti after this devastating earthquake," Ban said in the statement issued Tuesday night. Full story
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama offered Tuesday to assist quake-stricken Haiti. The U.S. government agencies and the military have begun to prepare for humanitarian mission.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake. We are closely monitoring the situation and west and ready to assist the people of Haiti," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said Tuesday the headquarters of the UN mission in Haiti "sustained serious damage" after a major earthquake hit the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
"A large number of personnel remain unaccounted for," a statement issued here said. Full story
MANILA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Filipino peacekeepers were reportedly among those trapped inside a hotel in Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti that was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday.
Armed Forces of Philippines spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said he received reports that some Filipino peacekeepers were trapped in a hotel in capital Port-au-Prince, but a Philippine diplomat to the UN said he has not received confirmation on this. Full story
OTTAWA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on Tuesday that Canada was ready to help Haiti after a major earthquake hit the small island country.
Cannon told a press conference that Canada is offering its condolences to all those affected by this disaster, and Canada "is monitoring the situation very closely." Full story
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles County and an international aid group based in the area pledged assistance to Haiti after the poor Caribbean country was struck by a major earthquake earlier Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department planned to send about 60 firefighters to conduct search and rescue mission in Haiti where a powerful quake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck an area about 10 miles (15 km) west of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Full story
SANTO DOMINGO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson of the Dominican president on Tuesday made an urgent appeal to the international community for humanitarian aid for Haiti that was hit by the region's ever-recorded strongest earthquake.
Rafael Nunez, spokesperson from the presidential office, said on television that "the situation in Haiti is difficult so we request aid from Latin America and around the world to help our neighbor." Full story
BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Haiti at 5:53 a.m Wednesday Beijing time, according to China's national seismological network.
The epicenter was at 18.5 degrees north latitude and 72.5 degrees west longitude with a depth of 10 kilometers, the network said. Full story
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A strong earthquake with a confirmed magnitude of 7.0 occurred on Tuesday near Haiti, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
The epicenter was just 15 kilometers southwest of Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to a statement on the USGS website. Full story
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Two major aftershocks measuring 5.9 and 5.5 on the Richter scale respectively struck the Haiti region on Tuesday, within 20 minutes after a magnitude-7.0 tremor rocked the area, the USGS reported.Full story
