- Title: Haitian PM declares state of emergency after deadly earthquake
- Date: 15th August 2021
- Summary: LES CAYES, HAITI (AUGUST 14, 2021) (REUTERS) COLLAPSED HOME DAMAGED CHURCH PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (AUGUST 24, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) HAITI'S PRIME MINISTER, ARIEL HENRY, SAYING: "We have declared a state of emergency in the West, the South, Nippes, and the province of Grand'Anse. We have a medical emergency. The Health Ministry started the distribution of medicines in hospitals." (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) HAITI CIVIL PROTECTION DIRECTOR, JERRY CHANDLER, SAYING: "We have registered 304 deaths, of which 160 are in the South department, 42 in the department of Nippes, 100 in the department of Grand'Anse, and two in the department of Nord Est. Unfortunately, we have registered 1,800 injured people. Several of them are in hospitals and others in specialized medical centers."
- Embargoed: 29th August 2021 01:53
- Keywords: Haiti Les Cayes Primer Minister Ariel Henry earthquake
- Location: PORT-AU-PRINCE, LES CAYES, HAITI
- City: PORT-AU-PRINCE, LES CAYES, HAITI
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,South America / Central America,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQE3CJR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIS IMAGES
Haiti's Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, declared a month-long state of emergency in some provinces of the Caribbean country following a deadly quake that left at least 304 people dead.
The 7.2-magnitude quake, which was followed by a series of aftershocks, struck 8 km (5 miles) from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, about 150 km west of the capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 km, the United States Geological Survey said.
That made the temblor which was felt as far away as Cuba and Jamaica, potentially bigger and shallower than the magnitude 7 earthquake 11 years ago that killed tens of thousands on the island.
This one - which occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time - hit farther away from the capital, however. In Port-au-Prince, it was strongly felt but did not appear to have caused major damage, according to Reuters witnesses.
Still, Haiti's Civil Protection service said the preliminary death toll stood at 304, with at least 1,800 injured and more people unaccounted for. Preliminary rescue operations by emergency teams and ordinary citizens had enabled many people to already be recovered from the debris.
At least 949 homes, seven churches, two hotels, and three schools had been destroyed, it said. A further 723 homes, one prison, three health centers, and seven schools had been damaged, although there was no major damage to the port, airport, or telecoms infrastructure.
Videos posted to social media showed citizens pulling others from debris and crowds of people waiting for medical attention at overwhelmed hospitals.
USGS said a significant amount of the population was at risk of landslides, with road obstructions likely. Haiti's Civil Protection service said a landslide had blocked the highway between Les Cayes and the town of Jeremie.
Likely to complicate relief efforts is the fact Haiti is now in the probable track of Tropical Storm Grace, which could bring heavy rains and winds early next week.
Also, access by road to the southern region, where the quake struck, has been restricted by gang control of key areas, although Henry said police would accompany any convoys going to the south.
The earthquake comes just over a month after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, who had been ruling by decree, which deepened the country's political turmoil.
Meanwhile, swaths of Haiti are facing growing hunger, and healthcare services are already overwhelmed by COVID-19.
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