Haiti’s devastating earthquake - in pictures
Death toll rises as hospitals are overwhelmed by level of casualties
A tropical depression risks causing further devastation in Haiti after an earthquake that has so far killed almost 1,300 people.
A 7.2-magnitude quake hit the west side of the Caribbean nation on Saturday, destroying buildings, damaging roads and leaving thousands injured. Haiti’s recently sworn-in prime minister, Ariel Henry, has declared a month-long state of emergency and said that “local hospitals, in particular that of Les Cayes, are overwhelmed with wounded, fractured people”.
The earthquake comes almost a decade after the country was hit by a 7.0 quake that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and caused widespread damage across the nation. And, last month, Haiti was left “reeling” by the assassination of former president Jovenel Moise, The Telegraph reports.
In a tweet, Haiti’s civil protection agency urged the public to “remain vigilant” and “follow all advice” provided by authorities in the event of further disruption caused by extreme weather in the coming days. With wind speeds of up to 50mph expected, the impact of tropical depression Grace may further “hamper aid and rescue efforts”, CNN reports.
