7.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Haiti | CNN (2024)

Samantha Power, the head of the United States Agency for International Development, said she has authorized the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Haiti to help with recovery efforts following Saturday’s earthquake.

Power said she is coordinating with the Haitian government and has spoken with US Ambassador to Haiti Michele Sison and Adm. Craig Faller, the head of the US military’s Southern Command, regarding USAID’s efforts.

Naomi Osaka prepares to receive serve during her third round women's singles match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 27.

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, has pledged to donate her earnings from this week’s Western & Southern Open to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Osaka is the second seed at the tournament in Cincinnati, which started on Saturday and runs through August 22.

US Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted Saturday that the United States would assist in recovery efforts and offered her condolences following the tragedy.

A man uses a sledgehammer in an attempt to rescue people from the rubble of a home destroyed following a 7.2 earthquake, in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency after at least 304 people died in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti Saturday morning, the country’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced during a press conference.

The state of emergency will be in the Western Department, Southern Department, Nippes, and Grand’Anse.

“When it comes to medical needs, this is our biggest urgency. We have started to send medications and medical personnel to the facilities that are affected,” Henry said.

“We have sent more personnel to help out,” he said. “For the people who need urgent special care, we have evacuated a certain number of them, and we will evacuate some more today and tomorrow.”

At least 1,800 people were injured, according to the Haiti’s civil protection service.

“The first interventions, carried out by both professional rescuers and members of the population, have helped remove many people from under the rubble,” the civil protection service said on Twitter. “The hospitals continue to receive injured people.”

People watch an earthquake victim be placed into a vehicle in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

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Several Latin American countries are preparing to send humanitarian aid to Haiti.

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said in a post on Twitter that they contacted Haitian authorities and are currently preparing to send humanitarian aid, saying the country “undoubtedly needs with desperation and urgency,”

President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has ordered the National Coordination of Civil Protection and other ministries like Foreign Affairs, Navy, and Defense to prepare help “immediately,” he said in a tweet.

“Panama sends solidarity and help to the Haitian people,” the Foreign Ministry of Panama announced on Twitter, adding that they are also getting ready to send humanitarian aid.

President Luis Abinader of neighboring Dominican Republic gave instructions to the Foreign Minister to call the Haitian counterpart to “facilitate any help within our possibilities,” he tweeted.

Colombia is following the events and is willing to provide help in debris removal and rescue operations, Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez said.

People inspect damaged buildings in Jeremie, Haiti, following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Aug. 14, 2021. The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has arrived in Grand’Anse to assess the extent of damage after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Haiti on Saturday morning.

“I am currently in the Grand’Anse department to see the extent of the damage in order to better coordinate government actions on the ground,” Henry said in a Twitter post.

“Resources have been mobilized since this morning to provide aid and assistance to the victims of this devastating earthquake,” he added.

Martine Moïse,the widow of the former Haitian president, said her heart hurts after receiving news about the earthquake that caused enormous damage inGrand’Anse.

“My brothers and sisters, we have to put our shoulders together to come together to demonstrate our solidarity. It is our togetherness that makes up our strength and resilience. Courage, I will always be by your side.” Moïse added.

Petit Pas Hotel is shown damaged after an earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

In a statement Saturday, President Biden wrote he is “saddened by the devastating earthquake that occurred in Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti this morning.”

At least 227 people died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep (about 6 miles deep), according to the US Geological Survey.

The residence of a Catholic bishop is damaged after the earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

At least 227 people have died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep (about 6 miles deep), according to the US Geological Survey.

TheUSGS is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency, which will last for one month.

Sacred Heart church is damaged after an earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14, 2021.

At least 227 people are dead after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti on Saturday morning. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency, which will last for one month.

Here’s what we know right now:

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency after Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

The emergency declaration will last for one month, he said.

A Haitian hospital administrator in the southern city of Jeremie says the hospital is overwhelmed and has yet to received any communication from the government.

“We are overwhelmed. There are a lot of people coming in — a lot of people. We don’t have enough supplies. We are not currently able to count how many there are, but the emergency service is completely full and we have had to install (medical) tents in the courtyard,” the hospital administrator for Hopital Saint Antoine in the southern city of Jeremie told CNN.

At least 29 people have died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep (about 6 miles deep), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

TheUS Geological Survey is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster.

The US Geological Survey’s ShakeMap is showing frequent shaking in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Saturday morning. The region continues to see aftershocks, with the largest so far measuring a magnitude of 5.2, according to the USGS.

USGS classified the current shaking as “violent,” which is the second-to-highest level on its scale. It also indicated a red alert for both economic losses and fatalities.

Disaster experts from the US Agency for International Development are on the ground in Haiti assessing damage and needs, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance tweeted.

TheUS Geological Survey is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster in Haiti following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake Saturday morning.

Then-Haitian Designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry looks on during a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 20, 2021.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry urged Haitians to band together in solidarity after Saturday morning’s earthquake.

“I appeal to the spirit of solidarity and commitment of all Haitians, in order to form a common front to face this dramatic situation that we are currently experiencing,” another tweet read.

Tropical Storm Grace is currently on track to impact Haiti Monday into Tuesday next week.

Haiti can expect tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain, which could lead to flash flooding Monday into Tuesday. The heavy rain could lead to localized flooding and mudslides across the region.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the Dominican Republic at 11 a.m. ET by the National Hurricane Center. While a watch has not yet been issued for Haiti, one is likely to be issued later today or tonight.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Grace is forecast to strengthen over the next 24 to 48 hours and is expected to have sustained winds of 60 mph prior to interacting with the island of Hispaniola on Monday.

Jean-Wickens Merone, a spokesperson with World Vision Haiti in Port-au-Prince, a Christian aid group that helps with humanitarian aid around the world, said he is concerned that Saturday’s massive 7.2 quake will cause further strain in Haiti as it faces other crises.

“We’re concerned that this earthquake is just one more crisis on top of what the country is already facing — including the worsening political stalemate after the president’s assassination, Covid and food insecurity,” he said.

In July, HaitianPresidentJovenel Moise was killed after agroup of “professional killers”stormed his private residence. His assassination stunned the country andshocked regional leaders.

Merone said he felt the shaking from Saturday’s quake.

“In the beginning I didn’t think of an earthquake. I felt a shake but as it lasted more than five to ten seconds, I realized it was an earthquake. Both sides of the house was shaking. I wasn’t panicked. I realized it would take seconds to get out of house and it was best to let it pass,” Merone said.

Damage from Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake is already being seen in some neighborhoods in Haiti.

Photos from Les Cayes, Haiti, show damaged buildings and rubble in the streets.

This is what some of the damage in Les Cayes looks like:

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is currently en route to the most devastated areas of the country, according to his official Twitter account.

This is the first major humanitarian disaster for Henry since taking office after theassassination of President Jovenel Moiseon July 7.

He has already mobilized the entire government to assess and help with the situation, he tweeted.

The epicenter of today’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake near Haiti is approximately 60 miles west of the fatal 2010 Haiti earthquake, according to CNN supervising meteorologist Brandon Miller.

The devastating 2010 7.0 magnitude earthquake inHaiti struck on Jan. 12, 2010. The death toll from that quake is estimated at 220,000-300,000 people, with an additional 300,000 injured. One and a half million people were initially displaced, and more than 32,000 remain displaced as of January 2020.

Today’s quake was farther away from the capital of Port-au-Prince and the most populated areas in Haiti.

Initial CNN weather calculations show about 2.5 million people living within 50 miles or so from the epicenter. For comparison, the 2010 quake had roughly 6.5 million people living within 50 miles.

“Haiti is just not a countrythat is set up to respond tothis kind of event.They needed a lot of help afterthe 2010 quake.You suspect that they will needhelp again. In the middle of a pandemic, thatis going to be even morecomplicated,” Oppmann said.

The tsunami threat from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the Haiti region has passed and there is no further tsunami threat, according to the US Tsunami Warning System.

TheUS Geological Survey estimates “high casualties” and widespread disaster in Haiti following the massive quake.

TheUS Geological Survey is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster in Haiti following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake Saturday morning.

People navigate through the rubble in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

Following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake near Haiti, CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said aftershocks will be a concerngoing forward.

A 5.2 magnitude aftershock occurred 17 km (10 miles) from Chantal, Haiti, earlier this morning, according to theUS Geological Survey.

Structures are now compromised from the initialquake, Chinchar said, and “more buildingscould start to sustain damageeven if those aftershocks arenot as strong.”

The earthquake this morning, which was 10 kilometers deep (6 miles deep), is considered a shallow quake, Chinchar explained.

“Thepopulation that felt it, youhave over half a million peoplethat felt very strong shakingand five million people that feltmoderate shaking, not just inHaiti but some of thesurrounding areas.We are likely to see economiclosses around this area, mostlydealing with the structures thatare there,” Chinchar said.

Tropical Storm Grace could hit the Haiti region from Monday into Tuesday next week.

Grace became the seventh named storm of the season on Saturday. Earlier a tropical depression, Grace strengthened to tropical storm status about 400 miles east of the Leeward Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

On the current forecast track, the center of Grace is expected to move over the Leeward Islands Saturday night, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Sunday and the Dominican Republic on Monday.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 13 kilometers deep, according to the USGS.

A tsunami threat was issued in the Haiti region, according to NOAA’s US Tsunami Warning System.

Tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters (about 3 to 9 feet) above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Haiti.

The timing on thetsunamiwaves threat have already happened, according to the most recent USTsunamiwarning system alert.

Rubble in Les Cayes, Haiti, is seen on August 14.

TheUS Geological Survey is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster in Haiti following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake Saturday morning.

“High casualties are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” according to the USGS.

Estimated economic losses are 0 to 3% GDP of Haiti, according to the USGS.