Haiti Earthquake: Port au Prince Shattered by 7.0 Tremblor

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Haiti Earthquake Map | Photo 02

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Raw Earthquake Aftermath; Haitian streets 'lined with bodies_

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sourced by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

A powerful earthquake, magnitude 7.0, hit Haiti just before 5pm ET on Tuesday.  The earthquake caused a major disaster for the poorest nation in the hemisphere.  It has been called a disaster of major proportions.  According to CBS/AP, Three  Million Haitians have been affected by the quake.

According to AFP the collapse of the UN Headquarters killed the mission chief.  AFP believes no one survived in the building.  This was confirmed by CBC Newsnet.  At least 15 peacekeepers from Jordan, Brazil and China have also been killed.

Communications were all but non-existent and scores of dead lay in the streets and rubble of the troubled nation.  The country will require major relief efforts to restore it to normalcy. 

Structures crumbled, including a major hospital in the capital.  UN headquarters was also destroyed.  Non Government Organizations (NGOs) will have a big job on Wednesday morning to assess the damage and the extent of relief operations required.

Countries around the world are gearing up to send aid and disaster relief.  Clean potable water and medical supplies, including temporary medical facilities will be needed to help.

The Canadian government has pledged assistance and has contacted trusted agencies to determine the amount of assistance needed and is prepared to send its Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).  Countries around the world, including the United States, France and Canada have pledged assistance.

The epicentre of the quake was about 15 km (10 miles) from the capital.  Communications and electricity are still down.

This morning, 6pm local time it is still dark but initial reports indicate that the damage is massive.  Medical staff have set up local clinics to assist the wounded.

The UN, which would normally be able to assist, has incurred major damage and has several personnel missing.

Aid agencies estimate that the full picture of the damage will not be known for 24 to 48 hours.

State Dept says nearly all of 172 US Embassy personnel in Haiti have been accounted for. 8 wounded, 4 seriously. The seriously wounded have been medevac'd out.

Haiti's population is 9 Million about 80% of its people live below the poverty line.

Canada will send $5 Million in immediate aid to Haiti

Twitter Pictures depicting the destruction.

First interview with Haitian President:  Damage is Unimagineable

Canadians requiring information can call 1-800-387-3124. Department of Foreign Affairs Disaster Information Centre.

Americans that need help can call 1-888-407-4747

The Website Handsacrosshaiti can be used by Humanitarian Support groups to locate personnel that may have been lost during the aftermath of the earthquake.

NP Editor Yuliya Talmazan published the Breaking News yesterday.