7.3 Earthquake near Port-au-Prince Haïti

[bigworld]

Source: usgs

Magnitude 7.3 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time

* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 21:53:08 UTC
* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 04:53:08 PM at epicenter

Location 18.580°N, 72.540°W
Depth 0 km (~0 mile) set by location program
Region HAITI REGION
Distances

* 14 km (9 miles) WNW (294°) from Carrefour, Ouest, Haiti
* 22 km (14 miles) W (279°) from PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
* 27 km (17 miles) WNW (284°) from Pétionville, Ouest, Haiti

Location Uncertainty Error estimate not available
Parameters NST= 13, Nph= 12, Dmin=0 km, Rmss=0.97 sec, Gp= 94°,
M-type="moment" magnitude from initial P wave (tsuboi method) (Mi/Mwp), Version=A

Read more: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/pt10012001.php

[bigworld]

1. Tsunami Watch

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 1
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
2203 UTC TUE JAN 12 2010

THIS MESSAGE APPLIES TO COUNTRIES WITHIN AND BORDERING THE
CARIBBEAN SEA...EXCEPT FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

... A LOCAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

HAITI / CUBA / BAHAMAS / DOMINICAN REP

FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE CARIBBEAN COVERED BY THIS MESSAGE...IT IS
FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND
ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 2153Z 12 JAN 2010
COORDINATES - 18.5 NORTH 72.5 WEST
LOCATION - HAITI REGION
MAGNITUDE - 7.3

EVALUATION

A DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT DOES NOT EXIST BASED ON
HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.

HOWEVER - THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL TSUNAMI THAT
COULD AFFECT COASTS LOCATED USUALLY NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED
KILOMETERS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AUTHORITIES FOR THE
REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY.
AREAS FURTHER FROM THE EPICENTER COULD EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA
LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG OR UNUSUAL COASTAL CURRENTS.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS
WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
HAITI JEREMIE 18.6N 74.1W 2224Z 12 JAN
PORT-AU-PRINCE 18.5N 72.4W 2229Z 12 JAN
CAP-HAITEN 19.8N 72.2W 2255Z 12 JAN
CUBA BARACOA 20.4N 74.5W 2249Z 12 JAN
BAHAMAS GREAT INAGUA 20.9N 73.7W 2246Z 12 JAN
DOMINICAN REP PUERTO PLATA 19.8N 70.7W 2304Z 12 JAN
SANTO DOMINGO 18.5N 69.9W 2337Z 12 JAN

ADDITIONAL BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI
WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT AS MORE INFORMATION
BECOMES AVAILABLE.

[VanW]

57. n/t delete

[Judi Lynn]

2. Haven't the people of Haiti suffered enough? Jeez. Thanks, bigworld. n/t

[tekisui]

3. That's a sizable quake.

Haiti just can't catch a break.:-(

[VanW]

4. AP says a hospital in Port au Prince has collapsed.

This is terrible. The Dominican Republic is also affected. Possibly Cuba.

[BrightKnight]

8. Helicopters - Guantanamo bay is very close. Perhaps

they could fly in some medical resources. 150 miles is probably within helicopter range.

[VanW]

11. Yes

There are reports from Guantanamo on the USGS shake map. Hopefully they can help.

There are UN troops in Haiti right now, I think.

[lapfog_1]

50. Gitmo might be too close

and have their own problems to deal with.

Florida seems to be out of the damage zone.

[VanW]

53. Guantanamo already reported in, no damage n/t

[jwirr]

47. Very similar to the SF earthquake numbers so I wondered also

how many buildings are quake proof. Is there a cable channel that is watching this thing like we do when something in this country happens?

[Matariki]

74. many buildings are made from cinderblock in Haiti

they are definitely not built with earthquakes in mind.

this is heart-wrenching. Haiti has so many problems as it is.

[jimlup]

5. That's a big one

Damage reports from Haiti will be slow to come in.

[demoleft]

6. terrible. just got the news of the collapsed hospital. terrible really. n/t

[Sultana]

7. Holy shit

:O

[Judi Lynn]

9. Strong Quake Hits Haiti, Hospital Collapses

Strong Quake Hits Haiti, Hospital Collapses
Magnitude-7.3 Earthquake Hits Impoverished Country of Haiti, Hospital Collapses
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti January 12, 2010 (AP) The Associated Press

strong earthquake has hit the impoverished country of Haiti, where a hospital has collapsed and people are screaming for help.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=9544694

(Just heard on CNN that the earthquake's center is 15 miles from the middle of Port-au-Prince, whole Caribbean is under tsunami watch.)

[VanW]

13. map

The red box is the epicenter.

[VanW]

10. 5.9 and 5.5 aftershocks already

Update time = Tue Jan 12 22:36:38 UTC 2010

MAG UTC DATE-TIME
y/m/d h:m:s LAT
deg LON
deg DEPTH
km Region
MAP 5.5 2010/01/12 22:12:05 18.485 -72.556 10.0 HAITI REGION
MAP 5.9 2010/01/12 22:00:42 18.271 -72.862 10.0 HAITI REGION
MAP 7.0 2010/01/12 21:53:10 18.451 -72.445 10.0 HAITI REGION

[Odin2005]

12. OMG!

:wow:

[MaineDem]

14. That poor country just can't seem to catch a break

Beautiful country. Lovely people. But so so poor.

Good luck to them.

[IndianaGreen]

15. This is a terrible tragedy in one of the poorest countries in the world

I hope the world responds quickly with aid. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.

[qanda]

16. Praying for the people of Haiti

I think we should start our drive to help now. They are definitely going to need it.

[Peace Patriot]

17. Oh God no! This could not have hit a poorer country, nor one less equipped to deal with

such a huge disaster. I pray that Haitians have the strength to help each other and that more help arrives quickly.

Maybe the Pentagon could stop planning war against Venezuela, and stop pushing its military assets in the Caribbean and Colombia around on the "Big Board," long enough to do some actual good in the region?

Sorry, I couldn't help it. It just makes me so mad the resources that the U.S. is WASTING ON WAR!

[Faygo Kid]

18. Being called a "major catastrophe"

This is very, very bad. Get ready to donate, if you can.

[daleo]

19. That's big, for sure

And it could mean a lot of collapsed buildings.

[ohheckyeah]

20. My niece is in the Domincan Republic right now.

I'm a bit freaked out.

[IrishBuckeye]

24. What part? Any word from them?

I know a Tsunami watch has been issued for DR but have read it was only felt in the DR, havent heard any reports of damage from there.

[ohheckyeah]

26. They were up around

Puerta Plata on the northern coast.

My sister hasn't been able to get in touch with anyone. Cell phones don't work there and she only has one emergency number.

[IrishBuckeye]

29. Tsunami watch canceled for DR

reportely Santo Domingo had a 12 centimeter tsunami but no reports of damage.

[ohheckyeah]

33. Thank you.

I doubt my sister will rest easy until she talks to her daughter.

[dgibby]

25. Are you watching CNN? They're providing continuous coverage.

They've been in contact with both World Vision and Save the Children there, and both agencies are reporting that their buildings are still standing because they're better built than most of the other structures there.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her. Is she in Port-au-Prince?

[ohheckyeah]

27. Thank you.

Yes, I am watching CNN. They were up at Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.

[Irish_shark]

63. You should read the Dominican equivalent of the New York Times for updates. Here's the link

Listin Diario newspaper.

link: http://listin.com.do

There doesn't seem to be victims, although it was felt in the south from what I hear. I'm dominican too. The small subway system was shut down temporarily there.

[dgibby]

21. CNN covering story continuously.

Several aftershocks measuring 5.0 and 5.9. Quake was close to surface, indicating more severe damage. Approximately 10 million without power.

US unable to make contact with embassy due to downed lines.

Last American Airlines plane scheduled to leave still on ground due to runway damage. Roads impassible, govt. buildings damaged.

Haitian ambassador to US requesting aid, unable to contact members of his govt.

[Joanne98]

22. Haitian Earthquake Causes Hospital Collapse

By LIZ ROBBINS
A powerful earthquake of 7.0 magnitude rocked Haiti just before 5 p.m. local time, 10 miles southwest from the highly populated capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the United States Geological Survey, causing widespread damage and panic with the potential for a high number of casualties in the impoverished Caribbean country.

There were two aftershocks — of 5.5 and 5.9 magnitude — that followed in the last hour, and more were expected, according to David Wald, a seismologist with the survey.

“The main issue here will probably be shaking,” Mr. Wald said, “and this is an area that is particularly vulnerable in terms of construction practice, and with a highly population density. There could be a high number of casualties.”

The city has about 2 million people, according to National Geographic.

According to several news reports, a large hospital in the capital had collapsed, and people were screaming in streets full of rubble.

Haiti, by far the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been beset by natural disasters for most of its recent history. The island is struck by an annual series of hurricanes and is particularly vulnerable to storm-related disasters because much of its forests have been chopped down and used for fuel, leaving the country with very little tree cover. In one of its hardest hit years, 2004, Haiti was rocked by powerful Hurricane Jeanne, which caused untold destruction and killed 3,000 people.

Since 2008, the island has been struck by at least three severe hurricanes — Gustav, Hanna and Ike — that have wrought nearly a billion dollars worth of damage and killed 800 people. All of this has taken place against the backdrop of food riots, health crises and near constant government instability and upheavals.

Raymond Joseph, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, said in an interview on CNN that he had little information about the extent of damage but said the suffering inflicted on the was likely to be “catastrophic.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/americas/13haiti.html?pagewanted=print

[fascisthunter]

23. Poor Haiti... what Haitians deal with daily

now this... I will never forget how the US helped remove Aristide from Power...

[VanW]

28. first photos coming out

http://twitpic.com/xuil4

http://picfog.com/search/Haiti

[Judi Lynn]

32. My god. Thanks for posting the links. They got the full treatment.

It's just not acceptable this could happen there.

[VanW]

42. Sure. More pics:

http://twitpic.com/xureq

http://twitpic.com/xurbo

http://twitter.com/marvinady

[Tailormyst]

38. Not real- it is nighttime there

[VanW]

44. Taken before night fell n/t

[Judi Lynn]

30. Haiti quake major 'catastrophe': ambassador to US

Haiti quake major 'catastrophe': ambassador to US
45 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A powerful 7.0 quake that hit Haiti on Tuesday was a "catastrophe of major proportions," the country's ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday.

"I think it is really a catastrophe of major proportions," Raymond Joseph told CNN, after speaking to a government colleague in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince.

The ambassador said he was heartbroken as he had just spoken by telephone with a senior presidential aide who described scenes of chaos and devastation.

"He had to stop his car just about half an hour ago, and take to the streets, start walking, but he said houses were crumbling on the right side of the street and the left side of the street," Joseph said.

"He does not know whether he would reach his home, not knowing what he would find, because he had a bridge to cross to get there."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100112/pl_afp/haitiquakeambassador

[demoleft]

31. the Haitian Times provides no detail yet, but...

"a catastrophe of major proportions" it was defined by Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the United States, on CNN.

"At this moment, the number of death and people injured are not known. People could be heard screaming and crying. The metropolitan area is home to two million people in an area originally planned for 200,000. Houses are poorly constructed with lax codes, if any."

http://www.haitiantimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article--Earthquake+Hits+Haiti%20&id=5531327&instance=home_news_right

[ashling]

34. 7.0 quake hits Haiti; could be 'catastrophe,' official says

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- A major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, knocking down buildings and inflicting a catastrophe on the impoverished Caribbean nation, its ambassador to the United States said.

"The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best," the ambassador, Raymond Joseph, told CNN.

The magnitude 7.0 quake struck about 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince shortly before 5 p.m. Joseph said he had little information about the extent of damage from the quake, but one government official -- the only one he was able to reach -- told him houses had crumbled "on the right side of the street and the left side of the street."

"He said it is a catastrophe of major proportions," Joseph said.

Are you there? Submit an iReport

A hospital collapsed from the quake, The Associated Press reported.

Frank Williams, the Haitian director of the relief agency World Vision International, said the quake left people "pretty much screaming" all around Port-au-Prince. He said the agency's building shook for about 35 seconds, "and portions of things on the building fell off."

*more*

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/12/haiti.earthquake/index.html

---

It appears that getting into the airport in Port-au-Prince is iffy - they are unsure of the runways. It seems like we could send military helicopters with Aid out of Guantanamo (sorry about my typos) also, the US Aircraft Carrier Carl Vinson is set to leave (or has just left) Norfolk headed for Brazil (my son is law is stationed on it, so we ought to use it as a base for funneling aid, equipment, etc.

I hope that our govt. has already thought of this

[itsrobert]

35. Helicopters is little help

They need that runway open. Sounds like a job for REDHORSE/Navy Seabees to get the runway operational and C-5/C-17/C-130's in.

[BrightKnight]

52. An emergency deployment of USNS Comfort would be helpful

if they could pull it off. I hope that SOUTHCOM is doing something.

[VanW]

37. CNN just said that a plane successfully took off

from Port-Au-Prince Intl.

[ohheckyeah]

36. My niece and husband are ok.

They drove up a mountain to 500 feet above sea level. They did feel the quake and were of course rather freaked out.

[IrishBuckeye]

39. *thumbs up* /nm

nm

[Tailormyst]

41. You must be so relieved. I can't imagine what the people there are going through

[ohheckyeah]

45. Yeah, I am. I didn't cry until I knew they were ok.

I feel so bad for the people of Haiti.

[Joanne98]

40. Here's a twitter link

http://twitter.com/#search?q=Port-au-Prince

[demoleft]

43. "Haitian presidential palace leveled after quake: report" - AFP

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) – Haiti's presidential palace and numerous other government buildings in the country's capital Port-au-Prince collapsed Tuesday after a massive 7.0 earthquake, Haitian television streaming online reported Tuesday.
...
A journalist with Haitian television station Haitipal, interviewed by telephone from Port-au-Prince, told the station that public buildings across the capital had been destroyed.
...
An AFP correspondent in Petionville said one three-story building, housing two offices, was toppled, and a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets in panic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100113/wl_afp/haitiquake

[Joanne98]

46. Some pictures are coming in on twitter

http://twicsy.com/?search=haiti&past=1h

[grantcart]

48. kick

[Joanne98]

49. Earthquake 'destroys presidential palace' in Haiti

A major earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti today, destroying buildings including the presidential palace and a hospital in the capital Port-au-Prince and burying residents under rubble.

Buildings were reduced to rubble while streets in the city were blocked and witnesses reported people fleeing in terror.

The epicenter of the quake was located inland, only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth of only 6.2 miles.

It prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6985798.ece

[Beaverhausen]

51. If I may suggest a good organization to donate to

Paul Farmer's Partners in Health

http://www.pih.org/where/Haiti/Haiti.html

[VanW]

54. Wyclef Jean has set up a text message donation fund

@Wyclef:"Please text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to YELE HAITI."

[LuckyLib]

61. Paul Farmer's work is amazing. Read Mountains Beyond Mountains to understand the struggle

that folks in Haiti face in their daily lives.

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=1298

[Beaverhausen]

67. I have read it. He is amazing. I hope he is OK if he is actually there now

I can't get my head around this tragedy. :cry:

[Solly Mack]

55. Just horrible

:(

[Jefferson23]

56. This is heartbreaking!

[VanW]

58. Presidential Palace, Ministries of Finance, Justice and Parliament have all collapsed

as well as Hotel Montana in Petion-Ville.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Port-au-Prince, the national cathedral is heavily damaged.

American Airlines flight 1908 was on the runway when the quake hit. It took off successfully and is about to land in Miami.

[VanW]

59. American aid worker in NE Haiti live on CNN now

says there is little damage in that part of the country. All cell phones out.

[Irish_shark]

60. "Thousands fear dead," the telegraph says

"Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in the capital of Port-au-Prince, told US colleagues before phone service failed that "there must be thousands of people dead," according to a spokeswoman for the aid group, Sara Fajardo." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/6977931/Haiti-earthquake-thousands-feared-dead.html

What a tragedy.

[VanW]

62. Live bilingual ustream broadcast

French and English:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pierrecote

[VanW]

64. This guy is live with a CNN producer now

Crazy.

[Lost-in-FL]

66. Thank you so much for this link.

My inlaws were supposed to fly tomorrow and we are telling them as much info as we hear from here to try to convince them to stay. This link is very helpful.

[VanW]

68. Flying into Haiti?

NBC says the P-a-P airport control tower is severely damaged. No flights going in at the moment.

[Lost-in-FL]

69. Yes, they were supposed to fly to Haiti tomorrow.

My in-laws still have relatives and friends there and they were going to visit. Not anymore.

[VanW]

70. :(

Pierre has connected again to Paolo who is in Haiti, they are talking about damage region by region

At the ustream link

[Lost-in-FL]

71. I know.

This is amazing (the technology of course). I am watching this feed and it is great. That's how we found out about the Port-au-prince airport, government agencies, etc.

[VanW]

75. New live video with Paolo now n/t

[VanW]

76. His wife who is a doctor is now reporting n/t

Her name is Dr. Myrtho Chilosi.

[VanW]

65. Many dead/injured at collapsed UN peacekeeping HQ -AFP

http://twitter.com/RodrigoBNO

[VanW]

72. Collapsed building list

Collapsed:

hotel montana,
caribbean supermarket,
hospital notre petits freres & soeurs,
hexagan building PV,
hotel caribe (old union school)


---

Hotel Oloffson (sp?) is OK, not collapsed, internet is working there but not phones.

[GliderGuider]

73. There have been 18 aftershocks now, all but one 4.5 or over

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/region/N_America_eqs.php

MAP 	4.8 	2010/01/13 02:26:34  	  18.470 	 -72.836  	 10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.9 	2010/01/13 02:11:31  	  18.445 	-73.026  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.4 	2010/01/13 01:57:35  	  18.459 	-72.924  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.0 	2010/01/13 01:55:16  	  18.397 	-72.824  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.4 	2010/01/13 01:36:34  	  18.595 	-72.892  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.3 	2010/01/13 01:32:45  	  18.384 	-72.950  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.1 	2010/01/13 01:16:52  	  18.431 	-72.856  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.6 	2010/01/13 01:05:49  	  18.537 	-72.666  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.2 	2010/01/13 00:59:06  	  18.257 	-72.914  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.0 	2010/01/13 00:43:27  	  18.541 	-72.486  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.8 	2010/01/13 00:23:56  	  18.410 	-72.716  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.5 	2010/01/12 23:47:39  	  18.471 	-72.851  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.5 	2010/01/12 23:35:40  	  18.437 	-72.811  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.8 	2010/01/12 23:27:36  	  18.482 	-72.810  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.1 	2010/01/12 23:12:04  	  18.390 	-72.570  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	4.2 	2010/01/12 23:07:03  	  18.432 	-72.620  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.5 	2010/01/12 22:12:05  	  18.485 	-72.556  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	5.9 	2010/01/12 22:00:42  	  18.321 	-72.848  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION
MAP 	7.0 	2010/01/12 21:53:09  	  18.451 	-72.445  	10.0  	 HAITI REGION

All have been in approximately the same location.

This is a nightmare.

[IndianaGreen]

77. Apocalypse in Haiti: Havana Predicted Massive Earthquake in Port-au-Prince in 2008

CNN just had this story tonight:

Apocalypse in Haiti: Havana Predicted Massive Earthquake in Port-au-Prince in 2008

In October 2008, Patrick Charles, former Professor at the Geological Institute of Havana stated that “conditions are ripe for major seismic activity in Port-au-Prince. The inhabitants of the Haitian capital need to prepare themselves for an event which will inevitably occur...”. His statements were printed in Le Matin newspaper, Haiti. Professor Charles added that “science has provided instruments that help predict these types of events and show how we have arrived at these conclusions.”

His predictions were based upon the fact that Port-au-Prince sits on a large fault line, part of the Enriquillo Fault Zone, which begins in Petionville and ends at Tiburon, which was razed twice by earthquakes in 1751 and 1771. He predicted that the minor tremors felt in Petionville, Delmas, Croix des Bouquets, and La Plaine in 2008 were a sign of something larger to come.

Professor Charles predicted that an earthquake of 7.2 or more would take place in or near Haiti’s capital with catastrophic consequences.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/12-01-2010/111625-havanahaiti-0

[Haole Girl]

88. Geologists warn millions of Californians, often, too. nt

[IndianaGreen]

78. Possibilty of Earthquake in Port-au-Prince? (2008)

On edit, I found the 2008 article that CNN showed:

Possibilty of Earthquake in Port-au-Prince?

Oct 11, 2008
Posted By:CoolP

A recent article in Haiti’s Le Matin newspaper has quoted 65 year old geologist and former professor at the Geological Institute of Havana, Patrick Charles, as stating that “conditions are ripe for major seismic activity in Port-au-Prince. The inhabitants of the Haitian capital need to prepare themselves for an event which will inevitably occur...” According to him, the danger is imminent. He ads “Thank God that science has provided instruments that help predict these types of events and show how we have arrived at these conclusions.”

According to Patrick Charles, Port-au-Prince is traversed by a large fault which is part of the Enriquillo Fault Zone. The fault starts in Petionville and follows the Southern Peninsula ending at Tiburon. In 1751 and 1771, this town was completely destroyed by an earthquake. As proof to his claims, he referred to recent tremors that have occurred in Petionville, Delmas, Croix des Bouquets, and La Plaine. Minor tremors such as these usually signal a larger earthquake to come.

Haiti is no stranger to large quakes with the destruction of Palais Sans Souci near the Citadelle in 1842. It has also been 200 years since any major seismic activity has occurred in Port-au-Prince. This means that the level of built up stress and energy in the earth could one day be released resulting in an earthquake measuring 7.2 or more on the Richter Scale. This would be an event of catastrophic proportions in a city with loose building codes, and an abundance of shanty-towns built in ravines and other undesirable locations. Even the super-rich may not be immune as many own homes with great views, but precariously perched on the mountainsides above Petionville, on ground which is also susceptible to landslides.

Although city officials often discuss this, it is noted that no measures have been put into place to address the situation. Mr. Charles mentions the following devastating scenarios: A giant tsunami reaching all the way to Lake Azuéi (aka Étang Saumâtre) flooding La Plaine, and the complete destruction of Morne l’Hopital which is currently dotted with flimsy shantytowns. If we thought the recent back-to-back hurricanes were devastating, they surely will pale in comparison to a major earthquake in the densely populated Haitian capital.

Is this all scientific rhetoric, or something that Haitian officials should take seriously? Participate in the poll and say what you want. Di sa’w vle!

Read Article in Le Matin:
HAÏTI/ MENACE DE CATASTROPHE NATURELLE / Risque sismique élevé sur Port-au-Prince
http://www.lematinhaiti.com/Article.asp?ID=14646

http://www.haitixchange.com/index.php/hx/Articles/possibilty-of-earthquake-in-port-au-prince/

[Jennicut]

81. Wow, totally predicted, right there.

The amount of devastation is going to be very, very bad for these people.

[Libertas1776]

79. Haiti earthquake feared to have killed many

Source: BBC World News

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake which struck off the coast of Haiti is feared to have caused major loss of life in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Haiti's worst quake in two centuries seriously damaged the HQ of the UN mission in Haiti and a "large number" of its personnel are reported missing. Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions". The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital, was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude.

<snip>

Mike Blanpied of the US Geological Survey said that, based on the location and size of the quake, about three million people will have been severely shaken by its impact.

<snip>

US President Barack Obama said in a statement that his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Haiti and America stood ready to assist them.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8455629.stm

[IndianaGreen]

80. Here is photo of Haiti Presidential Palace before the quake

MSNBC has shown photos of the palace destroyed by the quake.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/mweriksson/135500657/

And after the quake:

[JCMach1]

82. Presidential palace completely collapsed...

My heart goes out... this is the last thing Haiti needs.

[JCMach1]

83. Just now 5.7 Aftershock

ke Details
Magnitude 5.7 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time

* Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 05:02:58 UTC
* Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 12:02:58 AM at epicenter

Location 18.520°N, 73.000°W
Depth 33 km (20.5 miles) set by location program
Region HAITI REGION
Distances

* 58 km (36 miles) WNW (303°) from Jacmel, Sud-Est, Haiti
* 61 km (38 miles) W (269°) from Carrefour, Ouest, Haiti
* 70 km (44 miles) W (267°) from PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

Location Uncertainty Error estimate not available
Parameters NST=007, Nph=007, Dmin=0 km, Rmss=0.46 sec, Gp= 86°,
M-type="moment" magnitude from initial P wave (tsuboi method) (Mi/Mwp), Version=A
Source

* NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Event ID pt10013002

... http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/pt10013002.php

[Haole Girl]

84. I hope they don't have a tsunami too

:scared:

[JCMach1]

86. and another: 5.3

Magnitude 5.2
Date-Time

* Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 05:18:02 UTC
* Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 12:18:02 AM at epicenter

Location 18.386°N, 72.905°W
Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region HAITI REGION
Distances 65 km (40 miles) WSW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
90 km (55 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
170 km (105 miles) SSW of Cap-Haitien, Haiti
1110 km (690 miles) SE of Miami, Florida
Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 5.3 km (3.3 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters NST=158, Nph=160, Dmin=182.6 km, Rmss=0.94 sec, Gp= 25°,
M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=6
Source

* USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

Event ID us2010rka9

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rka9.html

[AlphaCentauri]

85. Terrible news n/t

[BrightKnight]

87. MSF reports that two of its Port-au-Prince hospitals were seriously damaged.

"...(MSF) teams on the ground have witnessed significant damage to its medical facilities, injuries to patients and staff, and an influx of wounded towards these hospitals in the capital."

"MSF’s Trinite trauma center hospital, a 60-bed structure and one of the only free-of-charge surgical facilities in Port-au-Prince, was seriously damaged by the quake."

"At its Maternité Solidarité hospital, a 75-bed emergency obstetrics facility also in the capital, pregnant women, new mothers, and newborn children have been evacuated from the facility due to structural damage..."

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4147&cat=field-news

[DeadEyeDyck]

89. been there for Easter Break

this is scary

[GliderGuider]

90. Now 32 aftershocks, all 4.5 to 5.0 or more - they're coming every 15 minutes or so.

I can't imagine what it's like to be in Port au Prince tonight.

My heart breaks for Haiti

[GliderGuider]

92. The aftershocks appear to have stopped after 9 hours. It's almost morning.

This is going to be a grim day.

[Baclava]

97. I'm afraid there will be tens of thousands of dead - if not more.

The city is leveled with nothing but their own hands to dig themseleves out.
Couldn't have happened in a worse place. What can you say?

[Heidi]

91. Kick.

:kick:

[Tansy_Gold]

93. kick

[Homer Wells]

94. Kick

[M155Y_A1CH]

95. Kick

:kick:

[Algorem]

96. noticed it isn't on Netscape front page,guess those people don't count

[BrightKnight]

98. A stable Haiti is in the National interest and this is an opportunity.

Bringing in massive NGO resources might accomplish much more than the DoD or the UN could have ever hoped for. Allowing Haiti to further destabilize would be dangerous. I hope that anyone left, right or center will be able to see that.

I see this as a humanitarian issue but the same conclusions could be reached from a cynical point of view.