Drone footages have shown the devastation caused by a M7.2 earthquake in Haiti, which has so far caused the deaths of at least 1,419 people. More than 6,900 were injured, and an unknown number are still missing. More than 30,000 families have reportedly been left homeless.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Grace is expected to dump up to 25cm (10 inches) of rainfall over the worst affected area. It is feared the deluge could trigger landslides.
Roads already made impassable by the quake could be further damaged by the rains, so aid teams are racing to get essential provisions to the quake-hit region.
Mercy Corp of Haiti Acting Country Director, Cara Buck: “Tropical Depression Grace is set to hit the epicenter region here in Haiti…no matter what amount of rainfall, winds, this is going to make the response even that more difficult.” pic.twitter.com/gRkrRPcJhd
— Katy Tur Reports (@KatyOnMSNBC) August 16, 2021
The quake, which occurred roughly 125 km (78 miles) west of Port-au-Prince on Saturday, triggered landslides and the total collapse of two communities. Several aftershocks have also been felt.
Around 7,000 homes were destroyed and nearly 5,000 damaged, including hospitals, schools, offices and churches in what is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
“The streets are filled with screaming,” said Archdeacon Abiade Lozama. “People are searching, for loved ones or resources, medical help, water.”
Footage taken from above on Sunday showed structures turned to rubble, and swathes of towns such as Les Caynes, on the Haitian coast, almost turned to dust.
Rescuers were also seen searching for survivors before the arrival of a tropical storm, Grace, which was expected to reach Haiti on Monday night.
Officials said it could bring strong winds, heavy rain, rough seas, landslides and flooding – which will hamper rescue efforts even further.
Henrietta Fore, the executive director for Unicef, told reporters that many Haitians were in desperate need of medical attention, clean water and shelter – with families in Les Caynes forced to sleep on a football field after the collapse of their homes.
In Martissant, on Haiti’s southern coast, local officials were forced to negotiate with local gangs to allow a UN convoy of aid and humanitarian workers though.
Prime minister and acting president Ariel Henry told reporters on Sunday he was declaring a state of emergency for the whole of Haiti following the quake, which was the worst in 11 years.
“We salute the dignity, the resilience effort of the victims and their ability to start over,” said Mr Henry, as the first aid convoys reached the worst-affected communities.
“From my observations, I deduce that Haitians want to live and progress. Let us unite to offer these people a living environment conducive to development.”
Hospitals under fear of collapse
It’s hard enough to treat survivors of any natural disaster but when the hospitals themselves are under fear of collapse it makes it all the more difficult.
Les Cayes Ofatma hospital is deemed too unsafe so they’ve brought everyone outside. People swat away flies on hospital beds placed under makeshift tents and trees. You can hear people screaming in pain.
A 2010 earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure and economy. [BBC, Independent]
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Probably will have mudslides and collapses. Diseases will spread more rapidly. Zombie souptime. What a disaster. Now all the fake charities and fake philanthropic orgs will be over there again, taking advantage of the crisis to do even more evil.
2,000+ casualties now reported. Better get the dogs to sniff out people trapped inside the rubble. If it gets wet from storm, it will be much more difficult.