Earthquake in Haiti: 1,297 dead and hundreds trapped in the rubble – Telam

It is one of the most shocking tragedies of recent years around the world (Photo: Xinhua).

The death toll from the earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday rose to 1,297 this Sunday and the injured total more than 5,700, according to the authorities. rescue efforts continue and a red alert remains in effect in the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone, located 160 kilometers from the country’s capital.

According to the latest information from the Haitian civil protection agency, at least 1,297 people have died in the earthquake that rocked Haiti, the civil protection service reported on Sunday, in an update that nearly doubles the reported deaths. in a previous report.

“The number of people killed by the earthquake rose to 1,297 on August 15,” said the service, which also took stock of more than 5,700 injured, up from 2,800 to date, the agency reported. AFP press.

“There will likely be a large number of casualties and significant damage, and the disaster is likely to be widespread. “the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported, when issuing a red alert “for earthquake-related deaths and economic losses” which the agency said will require an international response.

According to the USGS, the earthquake that occurred Saturday morning in Haiti caused “secondary dangers such as landslides” that could have caused more deaths.

Hundreds of people are still trapped in the rubble.

Emergency state

In Puerto Principe, the construction of the country’s main hospital is still incomplete.

According to the USGS, the earthquake that occurred on Saturday morning caused “secondary hazards such as landslides” that could have caused more deaths.

In addition, he noted that in general the “population of this region resides in structures vulnerable to earthquakes” since the predominant constructions are made of “mud walls and adobe blocks“.

It also specifies that, like that of January 12, 2010, the earthquake on Saturday occurred along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone.

After flying over the region, the head of government, Ariel henri, declared a state of emergency for a month in the four departments affected by the disaster.

“Many houses are destroyed, there are dead and many are in hospital,” Christella Saint Hilaire, who lives near the epicenter, told AFP news agency.

In Les Cayes, the third largest city in the country, a multi-storey hotel collapsed while in Jérémie, where more than 200,000 people live, the damage is also significant.

“The houses and the perimeter walls collapsed. The roof of the cathedral has collapsedsaid Job Joseph, a resident.

Tropical storm

Rescue efforts could be overshadowed by the near tropical storm Grace, which threatens rain and flooding, according to the US Meteorological Service.

But in addition to the damage caused by the earthquake, Haiti, the poorest country in America, faces a delicate political situation marked by the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moise, on July 7.

Despite the fact that the Ministry of Health quickly dispatched personnel and medicine to the earthquake-hit southeast peninsula, the arrival is conditioned by insecurity since armed bands block the only road which connects the district to the capital.