Thousands feared dead after major earthquake hits Haiti

A major earthquake struck western Haiti on Saturday morning, likely causing high casualties and widespread disaster, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, and sending shock waves across the Caribbean, where people fled their homes for fear they might collapse.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eight kilometres from the town of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, about 150 km west of the capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10 km, the USGS said.

That made the earthquake bigger and more shallow than the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti 11 years ago, killing an estimated 250,000 people, flattening buildings and leaving many homeless.

The USGS has issued a "red alert" estimating thousands of fatalities.

"High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread," it said in an update at 16:07:35 UTC on its website. "Past red alerts have required a national or international response."

The PAGER for today’s EQ in Haiti is “red”, w/ high probability of causalities &amp; infrastructure damage. PAGER stands for “Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response” &amp; provides ESTIMATES of potential fatalities &amp; economic losses. <a href="https://t.co/Pse5eQUFNM">pic.twitter.com/Pse5eQUFNM</a>

&mdash;@USGS_Quakes

Haiti's new prime minister, Ariel Henry, said on Twitter that the "violent quake" had caused loss of life and damage in various parts of the country. He said he would mobilize all available government resources to help victims and appealed to Haitians to unify as they "confront this dramatic situation in which we're living right now."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on Twitter on Saturday, saying Canada is "standing ready to provide assistance in any way we can."

Haiti's Civil Protection service said on Twitter there were initial reports of likely casualties from its teams.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning after the quake, lifting it shortly thereafter, although Haitian media outlets reported some people along the coast had already fled to the mountains.

People 'were flying outside'

Images posted on social media â€" which Reuters was not immediately able to verify â€" showed homes and part of a church in the nearby town of Jérémie reduced to rubble.

"In my neighbourhood, I heard people screaming. They were flying outside," said Port-au-Prince resident Sephora Pierre Louis, adding she was still in a state of shock. "At least they know to go outside. In 2010, they didn't know what to do. People are still outside in the street."

Canadians are thinking of everyone affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been injured - and we’re standing ready to provide assistance in any way we can.

&mdash;@JustinTrudeau

The earthquake comes as Haiti is already mired in intertwined political, humanitarian and security crises.

The government is in turmoil, a month after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, while swaths of the country are facing growing hunger, and health-care services are overwhelmed by COVID-19. Access to the southern region, where the quake struck, has been restricted by gang control of key areas.

"This country just never finds a break! Each year of mismanagement did not hurt, but the cumulative effects made us vulnerable to everything," Haitian entrepreneur Marc Alain Boucicault said on Twitter.

"Its going to take years to fix things, and we have not even started!"

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has forecast that tropical storm Grace will reach Haiti late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

Felt as far away as Cuba, Jamaica

The quake was felt as far as Cuba and Jamaica, although there were no reports of material damage, deaths or injuries there.

"Everyone is really afraid. It's been years since such a big earthquake," said Daniel Ross, a resident in the eastern Cuban city of Guantanamo.

He said his home stood firm but the furniture shook.

"I feel it, man. It wake me up. My roof kind of make some noise," said Danny Bailey, 49, in Kingston.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre also reported a quake in the region, saying it was magnitude 7.6, while Cuba's seismological centre said it registered a magnitude of 7.4.

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