7.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Haiti

Samantha Power, the head of the United States Agency for International Development, said she has authorized the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Haiti to help with recovery efforts following Saturday’s earthquake. 

Power said she is coordinating with the Haitian government and has spoken with US Ambassador to Haiti Michele Sison and Adm. Craig Faller, the head of the US military’s Southern Command, regarding USAID’s efforts.

Naomi Osaka prepares to receive serve during her third round women's singles match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 27.

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, has pledged to donate her earnings from this week’s Western & Southern Open to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Osaka is the second seed at the tournament in Cincinnati, which started on Saturday and runs through August 22. 

US Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted Saturday that the United States would assist in recovery efforts and offered her condolences following the tragedy.

A man uses a sledgehammer in an attempt to rescue people from the rubble of a home destroyed following a 7.2 earthquake, in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency after at least 304 people died in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti Saturday morning, the country’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced during a press conference.

The state of emergency will be in the Western Department, Southern Department, Nippes, and Grand’Anse.

“When it comes to medical needs, this is our biggest urgency. We have started to send medications and medical personnel to the facilities that are affected,” Henry said.

“We have sent more personnel to help out,” he said. “For the people who need urgent special care, we have evacuated a certain number of them, and we will evacuate some more today and tomorrow.”

At least 1,800 people were injured, according to the Haiti’s civil protection service.

“The first interventions, carried out by both professional rescuers and members of the population, have helped remove many people from under the rubble,” the civil protection service said on Twitter. “The hospitals continue to receive injured people.”

People watch an earthquake victim be placed into a vehicle in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

Several Latin American countries are preparing to send humanitarian aid to Haiti.

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said in a post on Twitter that they contacted Haitian authorities and are currently preparing to send humanitarian aid, saying the country “undoubtedly needs with desperation and urgency,”

President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has ordered the National Coordination of Civil Protection and other ministries like Foreign Affairs, Navy, and Defense to prepare help “immediately,” he said in a tweet.

“Panama sends solidarity and help to the Haitian people,” the Foreign Ministry of Panama announced on Twitter, adding that they are also getting ready to send humanitarian aid.  

President Luis Abinader of neighboring Dominican Republic gave instructions to the Foreign Minister to call the Haitian counterpart to “facilitate any help within our possibilities,” he tweeted. 

Colombia is following the events and is willing to provide help in debris removal and rescue operations, Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez said.

People inspect damaged buildings in Jeremie, Haiti, following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Aug. 14, 2021. The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). 

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has arrived in Grand’Anse to assess the extent of damage after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Haiti on Saturday morning.

“I am currently in the Grand’Anse department to see the extent of the damage in order to better coordinate government actions on the ground,” Henry said in a Twitter post.

“Resources have been mobilized since this morning to provide aid and assistance to the victims of this devastating earthquake,” he added.

Martine Moïse, the widow of the former Haitian president, said her heart hurts after receiving news about the earthquake that caused enormous damage in Grand’Anse.

“My brothers and sisters, we have to put our shoulders together to come together to demonstrate our solidarity. It is our togetherness that makes up our strength and resilience. Courage, I will always be by your side.” Moïse added.

Petit Pas Hotel is shown damaged after an earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

In a statement Saturday, President Biden wrote he is “saddened by the devastating earthquake that occurred in Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti this morning.”

At least 227 people died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep (about 6 miles deep), according to the US Geological Survey.

The residence of a Catholic bishop is damaged after the earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14.

At least 227 people have died after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Haiti Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil protection service.

The earthquake was about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 10 kilometers deep (about 6 miles deep), according to the US Geological Survey.

The USGS is estimating “high casualties” and widespread disaster.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency, which will last for one month.

Sacred Heart church is damaged after an earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, on August 14, 2021.

At least 227 people are dead after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti on Saturday morning. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency, which will last for one month.

Here’s what we know right now: