The largest earthquake ever recorded in Haiti devastated parts of the country, including the
capital, on January 12, 2010. The quake, centered about 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince,
had a magnitude of 7.0. A series of strong aftershocks followed. Witnesses are describing the
damage as severe and catastrophic. Communication services were cut off by the earthquake, so
detailed information has been limited. Initial reports indicate that thousands of buildings
collapsed, leaving unknown numbers of people trapped, and tens of thousands of people homeless
in the streets. Early estimates of casualties are constantly being updated, but already reach into
the hundreds of thousands. According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “[o]f
Haiti’s 9 million people, initial reports suggest roughly a third may be affected by the disaster.”
About 45,000 U.S. citizens live in Haiti, and the Embassy has been asked to help account for
about 3,000 of them.
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