The now notorious earthquake struck Haiti on the January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. It was the strongest quake to hit since 1770. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit about 10 miles west of Porte-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, leaving about 3 million people in need of emergency aid after major earthquake and the 33 aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.2 to 5.9 on the richter scale.
Most major landmarks were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, the main jail, the Caribbean Market, and most hospitals in the area were destroyed. Just one week later the death toll are now estimated to be up to 200,000. Thousands of injured people are still waiting for care while an unknown number still remain trapped inside collapsed buildings.
Even in this devastating time, there is hope, as of January 16, the American Red Cross has raised about $87 million for relief efforts and it’s NOT too late to contribute today.
Visit The American Red Cross to make a donation online or text "Haiti" to 90999!
