HAITI EARTHQUAKE FEARED TO HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS

13.01.2010 [12:26]
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Baku, January 13 (AZERTAC). A 7.0-magnitude quake which hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed hundreds of people across the Caribbean country, BBC reports.

In the space of a minute, Haiti`s worst quake in two centuries wrecked the HQ of the UN mission, the presidential palace and numerous other buildings.

A "large number" of UN personnel were reported missing by the organization.

The capital is now said to be in total darkness with many people sleeping outside amid fear of more aftershocks.

Describing the earthquake as a "catastrophe", Haiti`s envoy to the US said the cost of the damage could run into billions.

The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince, was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude.

The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. Phone lines to the country failed shortly afterwards.

Aid workers and reporters at the scene estimated the number of dead to be in the hundreds or even thousands.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE FEARED TO HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS

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