HAITI: Two and a half years after earthquake, demolition begins on Haiti's National Palace

Record ID: 861873

  • Title: HAITI: Two and a half years after earthquake, demolition begins on Haiti's National Palace
  • Date: 7th September 2012
  • Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (SEPTEMBER 7, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WITH EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE HAITIAN FLAG OUTSIDE PALACE MACHINERY TO BE USED IN DEMOLITION OUTSIDE PALACE WORKMEN DISCUSSING DEMOLITION PALACE FURNITURE STACKED OUTSIDE PALACE CHAIRS ON GROUNDS OF PALACE VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF PALACE SHOWING EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE VARIOUS OF WORKMEN AND TRUCK AT PART OF PALACE MISSING EXTERIOR WALL VARIOUS OF MACHINERY DESTROYING PALACE REMAINS VARIOUS OF CRANES DIGGING RUBBLE
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • City:
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: Disasters
  • Reuters ID: LVA87TOAYUT416UZB4UJ1RD9OKP7
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: It's as if time stood still. Two and a half years ago, a devastating earthquake ravaged the Caribbean nation of Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands of people and searing into our collective memories the stories of victims, the international rescue efforts and, eventually, the stories of the resilient spirit of scarred survivors.
    One iconic image was the National Palace-- so damaged that then-Haitian President Rene Preval was forced to conduct official activities in various temporary structures erected inside the palace grounds.
    Now, almost 32 months after the earthquake, the palace will finally be demolished.
    On Friday (September 7), wrecking crews began taking down the building which President Michel Martelly has vowed to rebuild. Plans for the new structure will resemble the former palace but are designed to withstand earthquakes.
    Since 2010, the ruined palace has become a symbol of the devastation and poverty on the island nation and government leaders hope the new building will become a symbol of the country's reconstruction.
    Haiti's 2010 earthquake killed more than a quarter of a million people and left over a million homeless.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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