A massive earthquake struck Haiti Tuesday, knocking out communications and killing hundreds, perhaps thousands.The 7.3 magnitude quake was the largest in the country's history. News reports trickling out of the country said a hospital collapsed, killing many people and trapping others under the debris. Haiti's presidential palace and numerous other government buildings in the country's capital Port-au-Prince also collapsed.
Witnesses reporting from Haiti before communications failed said "there must be thousands of people dead."
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 14 miles west of Port-au-Prince. The first quake was followed by two major aftershocks of initial magnitude of 5.9 and 5.5.
The earthquake prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic. However officials noted that they do not expect "a destructive widespread tsunami".
They said “there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km from the earthquake epicentre."
A statement from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expressed "distress" and pledged to move quickly to mobilise its disaster emergency response systems to offer help to the CARICOM member state.
For continuing coverage of the Haiti disaster, please visit CBC.CA
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