Haiti was struck by a massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Saturday morning. Tropical Storm Grace swarmed towards the island, potentially complicating rescue efforts.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected arrive on Tuesday morning or late Monday night. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there has been comparisons between this quake and the devastating earthquake of 2010, which killed approximately 300,000.
According to USGS, "High casualties and widespread disasters are likely," "Past alert events have required a national and international response.
Saturday's epicenter was located 7.5 miles away from Saint-Louis du Sud in western Haiti, which is approximately 100 miles from Port-au-Prince (Haiti's capital).
Lucy Jones, a seismologist, tweeted that "the damage should not be as severe as 2010 b/c the quake gave intensity VII shaking to Port au Prince." She warned that the earthquake's latest shaking caused severe damage to approximately 130,000 people, so losses will be substantial.
Ariel Henry, Haiti's new prime Minister, stated on Twitter that he would mobilize all government resources in response to the "violent earthquake" that caused widespread destruction and loss of life. Henry asked Haitians to unite to "confront the dramatic situation in which we are living right now."
Some coastlines of Haiti were expected to see waves up to 10 feet high. According to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System, the tsunami warning for the area has been lifted.
The country is still recovering after the 2010 magnitude 7 earthquake which decimated it. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck in 2018 killed more than a dozen people.
According to the New York Times, the quake was felt 200 miles away in Jamaica. According to the newspaper, at least two cities Les Cayes or Jeremie experienced major devastation.
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Widchell Augustin from Les Cayes told the New York Times that many people are trapped beneath the rubble of fallen buildings.
He said, "We can hear people screaming underneath the rubble." "People are running back and forth to the hospital.
According to the Associated Press, Port-au-Prince residents fled the streets in fear following the quake.
Naomi Verneus, 34-year-old Port-au-Prince resident said that she was awakened when her bed began shaking.
She said, "I woke up and didn't have the time to put on my shoes." "We lived through the 2010 earthquake, and all I could do to run was run.
This earthquake occurs just one month after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, leaving the country in political chaos.
Contributing to The Associated Press
Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
Haiti was struck by an earthquake on Saturday
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Haiti earthquake, Tropical Storm Grace approaching
