Haiti Nightmare Repeats After 11 Years... Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Strikes

At 8:29 AM on the 14th, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused 227 deaths, with fatalities expected to rise
Hundreds of thousands of casualties from the 7.1 earthquake in 2010

[Asia Economy International Department Reporter] A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti, which is already in turmoil following the assassination of its president, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Haiti also experienced a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2010, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), at 8:29 a.m. local time on the 14th, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred 13.5 km southeast of Petit Trou de Nippes, Haiti.

Haitian authorities announced that 227 people have died due to this earthquake, but the death toll is expected to rise further.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry declared a one-month state of emergency. Prime Minister Henry stated that the earthquake "caused numerous casualties and material damage in several areas" and that "all government resources will be mobilized to assist the victims."

The USGS also said, "There appear to be many casualties," and "The damage from this disaster is likely widespread." Economic losses are estimated to range between 0 and 3% of Haiti's gross domestic product (GDP).

Approximately 150 Koreans, including employees of Korean companies, self-employed individuals, and missionaries, reside in Haiti, and so far, no Korean casualties have been reported.

Telephone communications have been cut off in Petit Trou de Nippes, the closest area to the epicenter, and churches and houses have collapsed in J?r?mie, located 73 km away.

Following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake, up to 10 aftershocks with magnitudes as high as 5.2 have occurred nearby, raising concerns that the scale of damage may increase. To make matters worse, Tropical Storm Grace is moving toward Haiti and is forecasted to pass through the country between the night of the 16th and the 17th.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden has approved an immediate response to the earthquake in Haiti. The governments of the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Argentina have also expressed their willingness to provide support.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.