AT LEAST 225 DEAD SO FAR AS 7.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS HAITI SATURDAY MORNING AUGUST 14, 2021
" Many More Are Feared Dead & Hundreds Injured So Far In Haiti As A 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes The Caribbean Nation At 8:29 a.m Saturday, August 14, 2021."
August 14, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI- On Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 8:29 a.m. a major earthquake struck southwestern Haiti, collapsing buildings, historical cathedrals, and reducing homes to rubble, in a nation still struggling to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake that left over 300,000 dead, and the chaos caused by last's months Presidential Assassination.
So far at least 225 have died in the earthquake, according to Haiti's Office of Civil Protection which manages the Nation's Disaster Relief. But according to The U.S. Geological Survey issuance of a Red Alert for the disaster, estimated fatalities could stretch into the thousands.
According to The U.S.Geological Survey the earthquake occurred 78 miles west of The Capital City of Port-au-Prince at a depth of 6.2 miles.
The preliminary USGS PAGER Report shows RED for shaking related fatalities and economic losses, indicating high casualties are probable and significant damage is likely. Given the likely impact of this event, a significant international response seems likely.
There were reports of deaths, injuries and panic in several cities along the Tiburon, the Nation's southwestern peninsula. This region is less densely than the Capital City, but images posted on social media revealed that there could be many more casualties. Some images showed collapsed homes and the Catholic Cathedral reduced to rubble in Les Anglais, part of Jeremie in the Grand Anse Region.
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry declared a State of Emergency for the whole nation, and said at the moment he would not ask for international help until the extent of the damage was known. Henry stated that some towns were almost completely razed and the government had people in the coastal town of Les Cayes to help plan and coordinate the response.
According to The White House, President Biden and Vice President Harris were briefed on Saturday morning concerning the earthquake. Biden authorized an immediate response and designated USAID Administrator Samantha Power as the Senior Official coordinating the response.
The reports of overwhelmed hospitals comes as Haiti struggles with the pandemic and the lack of resources to deal with it. Just last month, Haiti a country of 11 million people received its first shipment of U.S. donated Covid-19 vaccines, by way of The United Nation's Program for low-income countries.
As of today, The National Hurricane Center has forecasted that Tropical Storm Grace will reach Haiti late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, which could bring the potential of 7 to 12 inches of rain.
FILED AUGUST 14, 2021: WORLD, HAITI