PORT AU PRINCE. – At least 304 dead, hundreds missing and 1,800 injured. This is the latest death toll from the seismic quake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale that hit Haiti, in particular the southern and western areas of the country. The Civil Protection of Haiti itself underlines that the number of deaths is destined to increase as the rescue operations proceed.
The earthquake on Saturday was stronger than the devastating one in 2010 which caused over 200,000 victims but its epicenter was further away from the capital Port-Au-Prince. The quake was felt at 8.30 local time (13.30 Italian time) about 160 kilometers of road west of the capital Port-au-Prince, north-east from the city of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, with its epicenter ten kilometers from depth. A long shock, felt throughout the country. The videos released online by witnesses immediately showed the devastation that the earthquake brought with it and the efforts to extract the wounded from the ruins of collapsed buildings, in places such as Jérémie and Les Cayes. Religious buildings, schools and homes were damaged.
The Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, declared a state of emergency. And he announced that the government will mobilize all available resources to assist the affected population. US President Joe Biden has announced “immediate” aid to Haiti, now on its knees amid political crisis, poverty, violence and the pandemic. Biden authorized an immediate US response and appointed USAID agency administrator Samantha Power as a top American executive “to coordinate this effort.”
Haiti, 7.2 magnitude earthquake: buildings collapsed in Les Cayes
And the Papa at the Angelus he prayed for the people of Haiti hit by the earthquake. “I wish to express my closeness to those dear peoples hit hard by the earthquake. As I raise my prayers for the victims to the Lord, I address my word of encouragement to the survivors, hoping that the participatory interest of the international community will move towards them – he Bergoglio affirmed – the solidarity of all may alleviate the consequences of the tragedy “.
Eleven years ago a 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and injured about 300,000. Over one and a half million Haitians were left homeless. Hundreds of homes, schools and administrative offices were destroyed, with 60% of the health system. A humanitarian catastrophe from which Haiti has never really recovered. And the new earthquake represents yet another crisis in a country politically in disarray after the assassination of the president just over a month ago Jovenel Moise.
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