- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti at 4:53 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, followed by a series of powerful aftershocks
- The earthquake was the most powerful to hit the island of Hispanola in more than 200 years
- Damage reports point to a widespread catastrophe. Many buildings, including hotels, hospitals, and Haiti's national palace, have collapsed, burying inhabitants and leaving some trapped in the rubble
- Witnesses say most of the capital of Port au Prince has been destroyed
- Haitian officials say that hundreds of thousands of people may be dead
- The Port au Prince airport is open, and humanitarian aid is starting to flow in from the U.S. and elsewhere
- The quake was felt across Hispanola, including in the Dominican Republic, where it caused tall buildings to sway in the capital of Santo Domingo
The January 2010 Port-au-Prince earthquake is the biggest natural disaster in the modern history of the Caribbean, and yet another blow to the proud Haitian people, who have endured so much political turmoil and so many past natural disasters, and now must face yet another battle to recover and rebuild.
With reports of widespread devastation and possibly hundreds of thousands of deaths, the people of Haiti need your prayers as well as whatever tangible assistance you can provide. Donations can be directed to the The American Red Cross or other charities. The Washington Post has published a comprehensive list of relief groups lending assistance to Haiti. Individuals can also donate their air miles to help with Haitian relief efforts.
Impact on Travel to Haiti
The earthquake hit Haiti just as the island was taking the first steps back toward welcoming international tourists after years of chaos. This disaster will doubtless be a huge setback to those efforts in addition to being a catastrophic human tragedy.
The Tourism Impact of the January 2010 Earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
U.S. State Department Travel Warning on Haiti Earthquake
More Haiti Disaster Information for Travelers
More Facts and Information About Haiti
