‘Substantial’ casualties feared after Haiti quake

[BeatleBoot]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34829978/ns/world_news-americas/

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A powerful earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing the presidential palace and numerous other critical government buildings and raising fears of substantial casualties in what a witness called “a major, major disaster.”

The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed by at least eight powerful aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 or greater, the USGS reported.

"People are out in the streets, crying, screaming, shouting," Karel Zelenka, director of the Catholic Relief Services office in Haiti told The Washington Post. "They see the extent of the damage," he said, but can do little to rescue people.

"This will be a major, major disaster," Zelenka told the Post.

<more>

[liberalmuse]

1. This is just sickening.

To think of so many people trapped, or trying to find their loved ones, without shelter and the basics. Jesus I hope they can get some help in there. It always seems to happen to the poorest countries. Hit after hit. :(