Major Earthquake hits Haiti Jan 12, 2010

I'm putting together some info. So far the orphanage is fine. They felt it and are now watching for tsunami warnings as they are on the river. I'll keep people posted with info as I get it.

Jen

(CNN) -- A major earthquake struck just off the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, sparking a tsunami watch for parts of the Caribbean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, told CNN he had little information about the extent of damage from the quake, which had a reported magnitude of 7.0. But he said the suffering inflicted on the impoverished Caribbean nation was likely to be "catastrophic."
"The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best," he said.
Joseph said one government official -- the only one he was able to reach -- told him houses had crumbled "on the right side of the street and the left side of the street."
The Associated Press reported that a hospital had collapsed.
The quake had a reported magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles (16 km) off the coast and about 6 miles (10 km) underground, according to the USGS. Are you there? Submit an iReport
A tsunami watch was posted for Haiti and parts of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, but historical data suggests a destructive, widespread tsunami was not a threat, the USGS reported.The quake could be felt strongly in the eastern Cuban city of Santiago, about 250 miles west of Port-au-Prince.
"It was very strong. It lasted for almost a minute," said Marlon Romaguera, who runs a bed-and-breakfast there.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A major magnitude 7.0 quake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday and prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Tuesday.
World Natural Disasters
The epicenter of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth of only 6.2 miles.
A major earthquake, of magnitude 7 or higher, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties.
The tsunami center said the watch was in effect for Haiti, the neighboring Dominican Republic, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola, Cuba and the Bahamas.
"A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the center said. "However, there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km (60 miles) from the earthquake epicenter."
The quake was quickly followed by two nearby, strong aftershocks of initial magnitude of 5.9 and 5.5,
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.