Death Toll from Haiti Earthquake Rises to 1,297

Injured People Also Reach About 3,000, Human Casualties Expected to Increase

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] Haiti's disaster authorities announced on the 15th (local time) that the death toll from the strong earthquake that occurred the previous day has been tentatively counted at 1,297. With over 3,000 injured, there are concerns that the human casualties will continue to rise.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

In Haiti, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 13.5 km southeast of Petit Trou de Nippes at around 8:29 a.m. the previous day. The epicenter was 125 km west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and at a shallow depth of 10 km, strong tremors were felt throughout Haiti as well as in neighboring countries. Strong aftershocks of magnitude 4 to 5 have continued until the morning of the 15th.

The earthquake damage was concentrated in the southwestern Haitian cities of Les Cayes and J?r?mie. Buildings including hotels in Les Cayes, as well as houses, hospitals, churches, schools, and roads were severely damaged.

Rescue authorities are searching for and rescuing survivors trapped under collapsed building debris, but landslides caused by the earthquake have blocked roads, making rescue operations difficult.

To make matters worse, a tropical storm is approaching Haiti, raising concerns about further collapses and disruptions to rescue efforts.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Grace, currently south of Puerto Rico, is expected to affect Haiti as early as the afternoon of the 16th. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the entire Haitian coastline.

Neighboring countries are also providing aid in response to Haiti's disaster. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has dispatched a search and rescue team of 65 members to Haiti. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed condolences for the earthquake victims the previous day and ordered an immediate response.

The neighboring Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has provided food and medical supplies, and Cuba and Ecuador have promptly sent rescue and medical teams. Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela have also expressed their willingness to assist.

Haiti experienced a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near Port-au-Prince in 2010, which resulted in up to 300,000 deaths.

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