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By 2014 the number of camps had been more than halved, though some 100,000 people remained without permanent housing. Figures released by Haitian government officials at the end of March placed the death toll at 222,570 people, though there was significant disagreement over the exact figure, and some estimated that nearly a hundred thousand more had perished. Why was the 2010 Haiti earthquake so destructive? Richard Pallardy received a B.A. © 2021 World Vision, Inc. All rights reserved. In February Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged. It was the strongest quake to hit the region in over 200 years and its epicenter was just 10 miles outside Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince. It’s been 10 years since a 7.3 magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, killing more than 200,000 people. The Toll 220,000-300,000: Estimates of the death toll vary Explore facts and frequently asked questions about the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck January 12, 2010, and learn how you can help people in Haiti. The earthquake had a 7.0 magnitude. 2015 to 2019: Prioritizing development amid setbacks. Occurring at a depth of 8.1 miles (13 km), the temblor was fairly shallow, which increased the degree of shaking at the Earth’s surface. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti in Jan. 12, 2010, left 220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and rubble nearly everywhere. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was the most destructive natural disaster the region had suffered, displacing over 5 million people and destroying nearly 4,000 schools. We are proud to be reviewed and held accountable by these independent third-party organizations: World Vision Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Survivors who were able to access the Internet—and friends and relatives abroad—took to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook in search of information on those missing in the wake of the catastrophe. A woman walking down a devastated street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, January 20, 2010. In October 2013 a U.S.-based group, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, filed a lawsuit in New York City against the UN, seeking compensation on behalf of Haitians affected by the epidemic. The following year the UN finally admitted to playing a role in starting the epidemic, though it did not say that the organization had caused the outbreak. The many Haitians lacking Internet access were able to contribute updates via text messaging on mobile phones. This is a documentary produced during 2 trips to Haiti early 2010. The densely populated region around Port-au-Prince, located on the Gulf of Gonâve, was among those most heavily affected. The Haiti earthquake emergency response team assisted almost 2 million people during the first 90 days following the disaster. The epicenter of the quake was located at 18.44°N., 72.57°W. Haiti had not been hit by an earthquake of such enormity since the 18th century, the closest in force being a 1984 shock of magnitude 6.9. Though adoptions of Haitian children by foreign nationals—particularly in the United States—were expedited, the process was slowed by the efforts of Haitian and foreign authorities to ensure that the children did not have living relatives, as orphanages had often temporarily accommodated the children of the destitute. Operations to rescue those trapped under the wreckage—which had freed over 100 people—had mostly ceased two weeks into the crisis, as hope that anyone could have survived for that length of time without food or water began to fade. In January 2010, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 earthquake. Because many hospitals had been rendered unusable, survivors were forced to wait days for treatment and, with morgues quickly reaching capacity, corpses were stacked in the streets. The shocks were felt throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as in parts of nearby Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massive-earthquake-strikes-haiti Many of Port-au-Prince’s multi-story concrete buildings collapsed in a deadly heap because they were poorly constructed. These efforts included providing basic services such as food assistance; shelter; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). 300,000 people benefited from cholera treatment and prevention programs. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/event/2010-Haiti-earthquake, GlobalSecurity.org - Haiti - 2010 earthquake, Federation of American Scientists - Haiti Earthquake: Crisis and Response. Professor David R. DiOrio – Joint Forces Staff College On January 12, 2010, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake centered 25 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti killed over 230,000 people, injured another 300,000, and created over one million homeless (IWG, 2010). More than 200,000 people received emergency shelter. The epicentre of the earthquake was near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. In an October 2015 letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, a group of UN human rights experts excoriated the body for using legal loopholes to avoid taking responsibility for the epidemic and thereby undermining its own credibility. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on the afternoon of January 12, 2010, was one more disaster in a country that had suffered from decades of political, economic, and social setbacks and inequalities. There were no building codes enforced. More aftershocks occurred in the following days, including another one of magnitude 5.9 that struck on January 20 at Petit Goâve, a town some 35 miles (55 km) west of Port-au-Prince. The earthquake hit at 4:53 pm some 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. Less than 2 weeks after the quake hit, Haiti′s public health officials had launched a national surveillance system with assistance from CDC, PAHO, and other partners. Damage to infrastructure in the 2010 Haiti earthquake was extensive and affected areas included Port-au-Prince, Petit-Goâve, Léogâne, Jacmel and other settlements in southwestern Haiti. 19,000 farmers were trained in better agriculture techniques to increase crop yields. Haiti earthquake: survivors' stories This article is more than 11 years old Haitians describe 20 seconds of shaking and then the horrific aftermath of the disaster in Port-au-Prince Recurring disasters, such as Hurricane Matthew in 2016, make it hard for Haitian families to overcome entrenched poverty. In response to the quake, World Vision called upon the largest unified effort of its national and global support offices. René Préval to defer legislative elections that had been scheduled for the end of February. How did World Vision respond to the 2010 Haiti earthquake? The earthquake. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a very strong earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010. On the scientific scale that measures the magnitude (or strength) of an earthquake, the quake scored a magnitude of 7.0 M w. The center of the earthquake was near Léogâne, very close to Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city of Haiti. A week after the event, little aid had reached beyond Port-au-Prince; after another week, supplies were being distributed only sporadically to other urban areas. On 12 January 2010, at 4:53 p.m. local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti, with an epicenter located approximately 25 km south and west of the cap- ital city of Port-au-Prince. Although that area was cleared by July 2012, countrywide some 500 camps still remained at the end of the year. How is Haiti doing after the earthquake? But reconstruction hasn't lived up … Other affected areas of the country—faced with comparable weaknesses—were similarly unprepared. From earthquakes to pandemics, test your knowledge of historical disasters in this quiz. The capital remained without power for significant stretches during a given day because of stalled work on the electricity grid. Anthony Guarino, a seismic analyst at the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, shows the 7.0 earthquake peak from the Haiti earthquake at the laboratory in Pasadena, California on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010. The announcement came after Ban received a report from a UN adviser who claimed that the epidemic “would not have broken out but for the actions of the United Nations.” In addition, the adviser urged the UN to provide compensation to the victims. On the 12 January 2010 an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Haiti. Earthquake′s Aftermath. With approximately 3 million people affected, this earthquake was the most devastating natural disaster ever experienced in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. On January 12, 2010, a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas in Haiti, killing more than 230,000 people, injuring thousands and destroying buildings, roads and other critical infrastructure including many schools and health facilities across the region. The quake caused the collapse of homes as well as public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and almost all the important national government buildings—including the National… Corrections? About 1.5 million individuals were forced to live in makeshift internally displaced person camps. In January 2011, Haitian officials announced the revised figure of 316,000 deaths. How many people died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake? The epicenter of the quake was near to Port-au-Prince, the capital city, with more than 2 million people in the metropolitan area. Because it occurred at 6.2 miles below the surface, a shallow depth, its powerful energy had a devastating effect at ground level. In the devastated urban areas, the displaced were forced to squat in ersatz cities composed of found materials and donated tents. 2010 Haiti earthquake and recovery timeline. In 2020, 88% of World Vision's total operating expenses were used for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need. The epicentre was just 25 km west of the capital Port-au-Prince and the focus was only 13km below the surface. Two years later, though roughly half of the rubble littering Port-au-Prince had been cleared and some damaged residences had been made habitable, more than half a million people remained in tents, many of which had deteriorated significantly. Learn More. On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti with a vengeance. The damaged National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. (©2018 World Vision/photo by Brisard Minequis). Haiti Marks 10-Year Anniversary Of Devastating 2010 Earthquake Billions of dollars poured into Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, giving the economy a boost. (©2010 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren), Children at a Child-Friendly Space in Port-au-Prince learn about the importance of washing their hands to prevent cholera in 2010. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Because the infrastructure of the country’s computer network was largely unaffected, electronic media emerged as a useful mode for connecting those separated by the quake and for coordinating relief efforts. Haiti Earthquake: Crisis and Response Congressional Research Service Summary The largest earthquake ever recorded in Haiti devastated parts of the country, including the capital, on January 12, 2010. In October 2010, cases of cholera began to surface around the Artibonite River. Haiti’s parliament was dissolved in January 2015, having lost its mandate to govern. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The 12 January earthquake claimed the lives of more than 200 000 Haitians, including some 300 health workers, and injured many thousands more, while causing serious damage and disruption to health infrastructure, services and supply lines. In December 2012 the UN, while not acknowledging that its troops had been vectors of the disease, announced that it would fund a program proposed by the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to rid Hispaniola of cholera by instituting new sanitation and vaccination measures. Geologists initially blamed the earthquake on the movement of the Caribbean tectonic plate eastward along the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden (EPG) strike-slip fault system. (©2010 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren), Children play games in a World Vision Child-Friendly Space after the earthquake. However, when no surface deformation was observed, the rupturing of the main strand of the fault system was ruled out as a cause. In Port-au-Prince the cathedral and the National Palace were both heavily damaged, as were the United Nations headquarters, national penitentiary, and parliament building. Their consistent efforts over the past years have saved lives, reduced suffering, and provided a future for thousands of affected Haitians. Cholera An estimated 250,000 people died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. On April 21 it was announced that Martelly had won the election with some two-thirds of the vote. The election to choose Préval’s successor as president took place in November 2010 after a 10-month delay. These efforts included providing basic services such as food assistance; shelter; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). 12, 2010, when a devastating earthquake southwest of Port-au-Prince resulted in massive damage and considerable loss of life in the capital and surrounding region. Efforts to level the worst such buildings, some of which precariously gripped the rims of ravines, were hampered by irate residents who refused to leave. The river—the longest on the island and a major source of drinking water there—had been contaminated with fecal matter carrying a South Asian strain of cholera bacteria. Below is expert commentary by NCDP Director Dr. Irwin Redlener. Nearly 4,000 schools were damaged or destroyed. Préval’s term in office was set to end the following year. For months they had lived in a shelter they cobbled together from scrap boards and metal sheets. (©2012 World Vision/ photo by Guy F. Vital-Herne), A mom in Haiti participates in World Vision's Go Baby Go! 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