Evening Buzz: Powerful Quake Hits Haiti
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Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
A massive earthquake has hit Haiti. The magnitude 7.0 quake struck just before 5 p.m., 10 miles southeast of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. A magnitude 5.9 aftershock followed shortly after, followed by another aftershock of 5.5.
The Haitian ambassador to the United States, Raymond Alcide Joseph, said just moments ago on CNN that this is "a catastrophe of major proportions." Witnesses say homes and businesses are in ruins in the capital city. There are screams for help. Power is out. Phone lines are cut. Haiti is in crisis mode.
This is the most powerful quake in more than two centuries to hit the region.
We are busy in the 360° newsroom working on this breaking story. Tonight on the program, we will bring you the latest on the disaster.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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Our responce should be no less than if this happened in the USA! Prayer Water Food Clothing Shelter for everyone!!
Another defining moment for us to show the world what our values and morals are – not just 'hot air"
I have been to Haiti and loved the experience and more importantly the people. I hope that we can make sure we have an ability to help effectively and most improtantly to call for a "State of Emergency." As American's we are lucky and should all try to find a way to help the poorest nation in the West. Please keep us informed on how the individual person can help.
My heart is with those people down there . the united state should send all kind off big help for them. we should send heavy eqiment. to help them we should send money also if i could help i would but i cant i pray to god for all off the help they get Thank you Bruce
Our thoughts and prayers go to the people of Haiti and their loved one worldwide. We are deeply concerned about everyone there and hope that as many people as possible can be rescued. God bless Haiti!
My prayers and thoughts are to my fellow haitian brothers and sisters during the darkest night in our history.
I wake up today, upon opening the TV, news about haiti quake struck me.. This is a major disaster and my prayers go to all the people of Haiti.
As my country (Philippines) overcome the country wide flood that kill hundred of people last year, I know you can overcome this as well..
Our Hearts Prayers Go Out To All Our Haitians Involved In This Tradgedy, May God Bless You All
I was in Port Au Prince less than three weeks ago with my sister in law and 7 month old nephew to get my 17 month old Haitian born niece "Lovely". I have met the people who gave me a place to stay and orphaned boys who stay there. My heart can't stop thinking about the young boy who I met who told us about his desire to become a dentist. My heart aches for all the people who have been affected by this devastation. My heart is in Haiti. I will be there again soon.
God please save all my haitians people and my family
My hearts is broken, i can believe Haiti my country who i love so so much got this terrible earthquakes, and i cannot talk to my family i am the only one here in NY,you can see how i am now still crying and pray, please them please they need it now.
I pray for my people, our Haitian people, and I hope that we have already been spared the worst. It's agonizing to watch the images on tv and yet not hear the voices of our loved ones on the phone reassuring us that they're ok. If ever was a time for all of us to band together and rebuild what we know as our Haiti Cherie, now is the time. I just pray that the spirit of the country we love is not lost forever...
my heart really hurts for haiti, seems they just can't get a break..my family and friends live in D.R. and san juan, P.R.
Haiti has been ignored for so long. It's sad that it took an earthquake to subject people to our demise. I hope my family is okay in Haiti. I'm praying God that the situation doesn't get worse. This is the time for all Haitians to unite and do what we can to help our country, because we are fortunate enough to be living abroad.
I am hurt. I am in pain. We need to do something for Haiti. Something has to be done soon. The time is now!
The time to act is now. the longer the United States waits to be on the ground in Haiti, the higher the number of casualities is likely to be. Does the protocol require the Haitian govenment to formally request help from the US before the US personel can be deployed on the ground? We greatly appreciate the prompt statement of support from the US govenment and their solidarity with the Hatian people. The time to act is right now.
I BEEN IN THE US OVER 20 YEARS,THANK GOD MY HART GO OUT MY HAITEIN PEOPLE . LOVE MY HAITI MAY GOD BLESS.
No words can describe what I felt when I heard this news. An earthquake! Are you kidding me! In Haiti? Wow! That's all I can say. I want to go there and help. I love the people of Haiti and I love Haiti. Mywife is trying to get in contact with her mom but can not. May GOD have mercy on Haiti.
I've been to Haiti 3 times and I'm praying for the country and their leaders during this awful time. One thing I hope our government does not do is just send money to the Haitian government. It will not be distributed to the people – that is why they are in so much poverty. The greed of their government and the bribery that is part of the culture is something that Americans for the most part are not aware of. Send medical teams, send bottled water and medical equipment, but don't just send money!
i fell so hurt by it ,i send my prayer to all haitians peoples who there rightnow .love them
my prayers go to all my people in haiti i wanna go home to help anderson cooper
Wow...what can I say...I cant imagine what will happen at daybreak tomorrow....just imagine those people under the rubble now...my prayers go out to all haitians
Praying for the people of Haiti. This country has suffered too many disasters, and the West has paid too little attention.
From photos shown on AC360, it is obvious that many masonry buildings crumbled in Haiti because they did not have any steel reinforcing in them. Steel gives masonry (and concrete) structures a good measure of ductility that allows the structure to absorb earthquake energy and helps prevent collapse. The US standards for masonry and coincrete construction would not permit under-reinforced buildings anywhere and especially not in earthquake zones.
John
New Brunswick
Anderson – safe travels as you make your way to Port au Prince.
My prayers go to the Haitians.
I've been in America for over 20 years, but I love Haiti and I am ready to go HELP my people...The Time is Now...
As a Disaster Relief Inspector I am ready to Go...Our Beloved Country need us...
Our hearts and prayers are with all the people of Haiti. We pray that help arrives as quickly as possible to save all those who are trapped and praying to be found alive!
My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Haiti.
Seems like Haiti gets the worst of Mother Nature every year – usually in the form of hurricanes but this year an earthquake. The number of reported earthquakes seem to be more frequent and while most are in the "ring of fire" area and they have had several there. Haiti is so poor that they will need lots of help to get back to rebuilding their homes and businesses.