Big earthquake in Haiti ( Mod warning post #13 and OP )

Sharpshooter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8455629.stm

Haiti rocked by powerful 7.3 earthquake
A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti, rocking the capital and sparking a tsunami alert for neighbouring states.
The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), about 15km (10m) south-west of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said.
Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions" as reports from the capital spoke of casualties and damage.

Kinda puts the "snow crisis" into perspective!


Edit: The situation will appear much worse as news filters out! But for those there the situation is already desperate.

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MOD WARNING:

Sharpshooter wrote: »

Thousands dead, thousands more feared buried in the rubble so keep it nice please.

Danbo!

<SNIP>

Saw death toll, my bad

The Saint

Witht the amount of crap that poor little country has had to put up with you'd think it was cursed.

Deleted User wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8455629.stm

Kinda puts the "snow crisis" into perspective!

The_Kew_Tour

I spent two weeks there and the people there are some the nicest people I have ever met for what they have they just get on with life.

Christ they have went through so much.

As OP says makes snow crisis seem like a gust of wind compared to it.

Kristopherus

Stee wrote: »

Hait that!!

/leaves without coat

Cop on, there are reports of thousands dead.

That_Guy

Jesus. Does that poor place ever get a rest?

Coriolanus

Poor bastards.

That_Guy

Just watching Sky News and they're saying that the main hospital in Port-au-Prince has collapsed.

I can't begin to imagine what they're all going through.

R.I.P to those deceased.

That_Guy

I've been hearing 7.0 +

Overheal

That_Guy wrote: »

I've been hearing 7.0 +

Yea I heard 5.9 on the TV. 7.0 seems the convention however.

TripleAce

Feck! I am going to Dominican Republic in 3 weeks!

Sharpshooter

Thousands dead, thousands more feared buried in the rubble so keep it nice please.

That_Guy

Overheal wrote: »

Yea I heard 5.9 on the TV. 7.0 seems the convention however.

5.9 was the aftershock.

Harpy

Overheal wrote: »

Yea I heard 5.9 on the TV. 7.0 seems the convention however.

i think the aftershocks were 5.9...

FouxDaFaFa

Christ. Just watching the news now. The poor people, it's just horrific. I really hope there is help for them soon.

That_Guy

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

Christ. Just watching the news now. The poor people, it's just horrific. I really hope there is help for them soon.

I really it's immediate and adequate.

They'll need a lot of water and IV's I'd imagine.

Sharpshooter

The Presidential Palace has collapsed and the hospital.

Haiti is one of those places that had a poor health service at the best of times, a disaster like this will streach it well beyond breaking point.
Another thing is that in poorer countries, buildings are erected much cheaper and are more likely to fall down in a small earthquake, this is a large quake that appears to have hit a centre of population.

mmmmmmm.......

a population of 3 million people and only 1000 hospital beds..........and one of the hospitals has collapsed.......

CrazyRabbit

RTE Website - News page - http://www.rte.ie/news/

Top story - Govt appeal to conserve water supplies
2nd billing - Campbell defends 2002 dossier on Iraq
3rd billing - Heavy rain, snow falls causing problems

Then, and only then do they get to the real most important and devastating news...this huge earthquake in Haiti that has completely destroyed the island and left possibly thousands dead.

The RTE news team should be ashamed of themselves. Apparently conserving water in Ireland, some bad weather and a story about another country's politician is bigger news...

That_Guy

All communcation seems to be down too so no calls can come in or out. My heart really goes out to these people.

CrazyRabbit

What makes this earthquake particularly damaging is that the epicenter was actually on (under) the island. Most times, the epicenter is well away from major population areas.

RIP to all that have died.

AJ STYLES

i feel we have a connection with rest of humanity, they are truely our brothers and sisters. go on youtube/google and write down pale blue dot, it shows how insignificant earth is and how we're all here, all 6(and rising thankyou china) billion of us on our home called earth. seriously so so sad.

CrazyRabbit

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

RTE Website - News page - http://www.rte.ie/news/

Top story - Govt appeal to conserve water supplies
2nd billing - Campbell defends 2002 dossier on Iraq
3rd billing - Heavy rain, snow falls causing problems

Then, and only then do they get to the real most important and devastating news...this huge earthquake in Haiti that has completely destroyed the island and left possibly thousands dead.

The RTE news team should be ashamed of themselves. Apparently conserving water in Ireland, some bad weather and a story about another country's politician is bigger news...

Top story on the BBC site, but when was the rte site last updated, I find that they seem to stop updating the site overnight.

Edit: RTE site last updated @23:03 Perhaps they are not a 24/7 operation.

cooker3

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

RTE Website - News page - http://www.rte.ie/news/

Top story - Govt appeal to conserve water supplies
2nd billing - Campbell defends 2002 dossier on Iraq
3rd billing - Heavy rain, snow falls causing problems

Then, and only then do they get to the real most important and devastating news...this huge earthquake in Haiti that has completely destroyed the island and left possibly thousands dead.

The RTE news team should be ashamed of themselves. Apparently conserving water in Ireland, some bad weather and a story about another country's politician is bigger news...

Pretty certain site is not updated overnight.

This looks pretty terrible. Poor guys, hope for the best.

Coriolanus

Overheal wrote: »

What Really grinds my gears about this, is President Obama came out same day and Pledged Support to the Haitian People.... it took him 5 ****ing Days to provide any response to the American People after the Fruit of Kaboom terrorist incident over christmas.

Incident where 0 died = 5 day later response from possibly the busiest man in the world.
Incident where 1000s are dead, more dying and an impending food/shelter/disease disaster is about to emerge = Same day response.

Also factor in the fact that an immediate response over Christmas would have lended nothing concrete to the situation. An immediate response here by the US President is immeasureably valuable in mobilising a world humanitarian response.

I'd say he has his priorities straight.

That_Guy

Hopefully Jamaica and Cuba can offer a bit of aid before the US come in.

Mr Yellow

RIP - may their souls rest in peace. A beautiful people & place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4OeGbeiYuU

That_Guy

I really don't like how Sky News are handling this story. The way the news reader is asking her questions, it seems that she's actually glad this has happened and is sensationalising it.

Asking stupid questions like:

How bad is this for Haiti?

Is the damage catastrophic?

It's annoying. Fair enough, Sky News is the only 24 hour news channel that most of us have but surely they can let the sensationalist sh*t go for something like this.

Hande hoche!

Watching photos of port-au-prince on the news now, it's horrific. Hopefully aid will get there sooner rather than later.

That_Guy

That_Guy wrote: »

Hopefully Jamaica and Cuba can offer a bit of aid before the US come in.

The best Cuba can do is to airlift out some of the injured, they have the best medical facitities in the region, treating the injured (there will be many) is the first priority.

speedboatchase

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

RTE Website - News page - http://www.rte.ie/news/

Top story - Govt appeal to conserve water supplies
2nd billing - Campbell defends 2002 dossier on Iraq
3rd billing - Heavy rain, snow falls causing problems

Then, and only then do they get to the real most important and devastating news...this huge earthquake in Haiti that has completely destroyed the island and left possibly thousands dead.

The RTE news team should be ashamed of themselves. Apparently conserving water in Ireland, some bad weather and a story about another country's politician is bigger news...

The Irish Independent didn't update about the death of Michael Jackson until around 10am the next morning, Irish media signs out at 6pm

admiralofthefleet

looking at pics on sky news, looks like total devestation. god help the people out there

humberklog

Mr Yellow wrote: »

RIP - may their souls rest in peace.

Not sure how that works in their voodoo/christian belief mix.

That_Guy

Those pics are hard to look at.

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

So sad. Really puts things into perspective.


R.I.P. to all that died and best wishes to all suffering.

Mr Yellow

humberklog wrote: »

Not sure how that works in their voodoo/christian belief mix.

Interesting words. Time for wiki..

That_Guy

They're talking to a guy via webcam on Sky News and he's saying that people on the streets don't have access to fresh water or medical supplies.

Christ almighty.

humberklog

Mr Yellow wrote: »

Interesting words. Time for wiki..

Well there's no rest for some and little at the beginning for the lucky.

TheZohan

TheZohan wrote: »

Where's the source for thousands dead? I can't find it.

The original BBC link has since been updated, the numbers of deaths at this stage are at best guesswork but considerable. As in many situations like ths the real issue is the injured I (personally) would guess that there are 10,000 injured at this stage, mainly by falling buildings.

What is needed are field hospitals, like the army use in a war zone.

truecrippler

Stee wrote: »

Hait that!!

/leaves without coast

FYP.

Ghost Train

some photos here
http://twitpic.com/photos/marvinady

the_syco

That_Guy wrote: »

Jamaica and Cuba

Hopefully they don't get hit by a tsunami.

That_Guy

That_Guy wrote: »

I really don't like how Sky News are handling this story. The way the news reader is asking her questions, it seems that she's actually glad this has happened and is sensationalising it.

Asking stupid questions like:

How bad is this for Haiti?

Is the damage catastrophic?

It's annoying. Fair enough, Sky News is the only 24 hour news channel that most of us have but surely they can let the sensationalist sh*t go for something like this.

I gave on that 'news' channel years ago. I agree with you, they seem to nearly wet themselves with giddiness when disaster strikes some godforesaken place like this..All they are is sharp suits and schmaltzy compassion.

My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragedy.

FouxDaFaFa

That_Guy wrote: »

They're talking to a guy via webcam on Sky News and he's saying that people on the streets don't have access to fresh water or medical supplies.

Christ almighty.

There was an aftershock as they were talking to him. It must be absolutely terrifying not knowing whether to stay indoors or not. He's describing hell on earth.

Senna

Very sad, lets hope its not as bad as it first seems.

As for sky news, they do love it when things like this happen, i can just imagine the editors there at the start of everyday wishing for a disaster to happen.

That_Guy

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

There was an aftershock as they were talking to him. It must be absolutely terrifying not knowing whether to stay indoors or not. He's describing hell on earth.

There's been about 2 since he's been on. The poor chap looks so frightened. If I were him I'd head outside. It's nice getting information alright but it's not worth the risk really.

the_syco

the_syco wrote: »

Hopefully they don't get hit by a tsunami.

I believe the tsunami warning has been lifted.

OPENROAD

Senna wrote: »

As for sky news, they do love it when things like this happen, i can just imagine the editors there at the start of everyday wishing for a disaster to happen.

I don't agree.

truecrippler

Madness, was watching a report by a sky news reporter and one of the ads at the start mentions surviving earthquakes.

That_Guy

truecrippler wrote: »

Madness, was watching a report by a sky news reported and one of the ads at the start mentions surviving earthquakes.

That is so bad on Sky News' part. :mad: