On the 12th january Haiti experienced the worst earthquake it has had for centuries. With an initial magnitude of 7 and two aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5, the damage that has been caused has killed an estimated 200,000 people and left thousands more homeless. However, how did it develop?
Jan 12th:
The quake struck at 16:53 local time, with the epicentre being approximately 10 miles south-west of the Capital Port-au-Prince, with two strong aftershocks quickly following. Chaos soon began as people began to come to terms with the shear scale of damage. Already bodies were starting to pile up as people began to sort through the rubble to find lost ones.
Jan 13th:
Today is the day the Red Cross announced that they fear that up to 3 million people have been affected by the quake, and that perhaps 100,000 people have been killed. Haitian President Rene Preval has been quoted as saying:
"Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed.
Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed"
The UN announced that at least 14 people had been killed when their building, with a hundred more feared to be buried under the rubble.
Jan 14th:
Thousands of homeless have spent a second night out in the open, with efforts to find people continuing through the night. The first US aid planes arrive in the capital, with the naval ships on their way. Reports say that the situation is getting increasingly desperate and that help is slow with a lack of heavy lifting equipment and medical supplies.
Jan 15th:
With the lack of aid continuing into another day it soon becomes the survivors that are in danger of dying. With official estimates putting the death toll at 45,000 to 50,000, desperation spreads and anger grows at the poor management of the aid distribution. However, some good news does start to appear, as stories of miraculous survivals begin to filter through - such as Mia, the two year old found alive three days after the quake.
Jan 16th:
Reports of looting and gangs preying on residents begin to trickle through, and large numbers of prisoners are unaccounted for after the main prison collapses. People begin to describe the situation as dire, one of the worst disasters people have dealt with. Some people have described the country as "decapitated". The UN launches an appeal for £346 million to help aid three million people for six months.
Jan 17th:
Reports state that the damage close to the epicentre is even worse than in the capital, as almost all of the buildings are destroyed, leaving thousand homeless. The scene is described as "apocalyptic". Desperation and anger continues to rise, although hope is still there as stories of people being pulled out of the rubble alive after all this time spread around.
Jan 18th:
Estimates of the death toll rise to 200,000 and violence and looting break out in parts of Port-au-Prince. UN police have to take action to prevent it escalating. People begin to leave the capital and head out into the countryside to try and find food and water. However, people out in the countryside appear to have been equally badly hit - their food supplies have also nearly run out.
Jan 19th:
UN send in another 3,500 troops to help keep order, as violence and looting become increasing issues as communities break down. Doctors have to make surgeries with basic medical supplies due to the severity and infections of some of the wounded. Planes carrying aid find it hard to land, with on plane carrying 12 tonnes of medical aid being repeatedly refused landing permission. Search and rescue efforts receive a welcome boost as an elderly woman is removed from the ruins of a cathedral seemingly unharmed, one of 90 people to be pulled out of the rubble alive. Food supplies in the markets still open are running low and the prices continue to rise as demand outstrips supply.
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