Haiti capital earthquake death toll 'tops 150,000'

[nadinbrzezinski]

Source: BBC News


Haiti capital earthquake death toll 'tops 150,000'
Women pray during an open-air service in Port-au-Prince, 24 Jan
Hundreds of Haitians joined open-air church services in the capital

The confirmed death toll from Haiti's devastating earthquake has risen above 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince area alone, a government minister has said.

Communications minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said the count was based on bodies collected in and around the capital by state company CNE.

Many more remain uncounted under rubble in the capital and elsewhere, including the towns of Jacmel and Leogane.

The search for survivors has officially ended and the focus has shifted to aid.

But a 24-year-old man was pulled alive from the remains of a hotel in the capital on Saturday after 11 days under the rubble, in what rescuers described as "a miracle".

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8477770.stm

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Once they do the rest this may very well top 200,000... and I am hoping it does not.

Lower totals mean lower numbers in the secondary wave.

[Warpy]

1. I thought it would parallel the Tangshan quake in China

back in the 1970s. That death toll will likely never be known because of the secretive government of the time, but it's estimated that a quarter of the city's million plus population died.

The major differences with this one are that a lot of people were outdoors and traveling home when it hit and that worldwide response and aid were as immediate as conditions would allow. The latter is what will hold the secondary wave of deaths down, not the number of primary deaths. Secondary deaths usually happen due to unsanitary water and untreated injury, both conditions being the primary focus of aid there now.

I only hope the aid continues after the reporters have gone home, a sentiment echoed by Haitians who have been able to post from time to time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. The Marshal plan is taking shape

and there are macro political reasons for that, but the aid will continue.

[aquart]

4. That's why we're giving the money in big bunches now.

So they have it for the ongoing care and rebuilding.

[winyanstaz]

3. I tried to say it was too soon for them to call off the rescue efforts...

"The search for survivors has officially ended and the focus has shifted to aid.

But a 24-year-old man was pulled alive from the remains of a hotel in the capital on Saturday after 11 days under the rubble, in what rescuers described as "a miracle".


There probably were more miracles then still buried.....damn it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Read WHY he was still alive

and why this is so unprecedented.

He had access to water, in the form of coke, and some chips.

[winyanstaz]

6. I am sure there was more than one building toppled that had food and water inside...

I just hate giving up too soon.

[For The People]

7. Haiti Earthquake

I couldn't agree more. Every life counts and I know if it was my family member, or friend, I would still be looking for them.

[winyanstaz]

8. yes! exactly...