7.0 Earthquake Rocks Haiti

[Razor Ramon HG]

http://www.canada.com/news/Earthquak...727/story.html

Canada stands ready to provide emergency assistance to people in Haiti, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday after a deadly earthquake struck the island nation, toppling buildings and knocking out communications.

"While officials are currently assessing the damage and the possibility of Canadians injured, Canada stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Haiti during this time of need."

"Canadians are profoundly concerned about the impact of today's earthquake in Haiti. On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend my sincere sympathies to all affected by this disaster," Harper said in a statement Tuesday evening. "Our nation is home to a large community of Canadians of Haitian decent. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they seek word about the safety of their loved ones.

There are approximately 6,000 Canadians living in Haiti, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said during a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday night.

Seventy-five Canadian embassy personnel — a combination of Canadians and locals — have been ordered to evacuate the building in the capital Port-au-Prince. Cannon said there have been no reports of Canadians killed or injured by the earthquake.

Cannon said the government is evaluating whether to send the Disaster Assistance Response Team, a military unit that provides emergency medical care and clean water.

Members of the Haitian community in Canada are scrambling to reach relatives after the massive earthquake, which was followed by devastating aftershocks and tsunami warnings.

"Everybody is panicking," community leader Margaret Jean-Charles said in Montreal Tuesday night, home to a large Haitian community. "Everybody is trying to call family and friends. Nobody is getting through."

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a powerful quake, initially measured at 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck 16 kilometres from the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Two strong aftershocks, measured at 5.9 and 5.5 on the scale, followed minutes later.

People are feared dead after some buildings — including a hospital and a United Nations edifice — have collapsed.

The quake prompted a tsunami watch for parts of the Caribbean but this was later cancelled.

Canadians worried about their friends or relatives in Haiti can contact the Foreign Affairs emergency operations centre at 1-800-387-3124.

Haiti's ambassador to Canada said he has not been able to reach any of his family members in Haiti.

"Right now the best I can get is from the Internet," said Jean Saint-Vil from Ottawa. "We've heard there's quite a lot of devastation."

"Everything started shaking, people were screaming, houses started collapsing . . . it's total chaos," Reuters reporter Joseph Guyler Delva said. He said he had seen dozens of people apparently dead or injured under rubble, which is blocking roads.

Panic-stricken residents were desperately trying to dig people out from under rubble or searching for missing relatives.

Elodie Cajuste, executive director of the Haitian Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said she heard screaming from the people who live in shanty town on a hill in the city.

"The earth (up there) is not very firm . . . you could hear people screaming," said Cajuste, who was speaking on her cellphone. "I just spoke to my driver and he was up in the mountains and a couple of his drivers died.

"I'm in a very residential area and it's dark. There (are) no street lights. My neighbour's wall is completely gone."

Cajuste was exercising when the windows started to shake.

"People are still in shock," she said, as she drove to check on her mother and her two children. "Communications are not easy. Some people are stuck in their buildings."

Telephone lines are down and cellphone service is only working occasionally, said Cajuste, who added she has able to access the Internet because it is connected via satellite.

"We are not receiving any information from the local radios or anything from television absolutely nothing," she said. "(We are) completely left alone."

Many people are in the streets and walls have collapsed everywhere, she said.

The initial shaking lasted for three to four minutes.

"I am following, with great attention and concern, the emerging reports regarding the earthquake that struck Haiti with force, and which was felt elsewhere in the region," said Governor General Michaelle Jean, who was born in Haiti, in a statement Tuesday night.

"This natural disaster has hit a country with an extremely fragile infrastructure, where many buildings are already unstable, and where living conditions are often very difficult. I fear for its people. I would like all Haitians to know that they are not alone and that Canadians will respond to this emergency."

Eduardo Cabrera, a spokesman for the Red Cross in neighbouring Dominican Republic, said damage was minimal in his country, but that residents of some coastal communities were pulling back from the shore in anticipation of a possible tsunami.

"We are currently trying to evaluate completely to see if there is other damage in the country," he said.

Richard Morse, a Haitian-American musician, posted updates from inside Haiti on Twitter.

". . . another aftershock . . . people are screaming and freaking out down toward the stadium," Morse said at 7:33 p.m. "Much singing and praying in large numbers."

Isabelle Marin, disaster manager for the Pan-American Response Unit, said Red Cross units from across the globe will come to the aid of people in Haiti.

"But there is a Red Cross presence in Haiti already," Marin said from Panama City. She said she will travel to Haiti as soon as she can.

"The first priority for the Red Cross is . . . search and rescue and then providing first aid," she said. "Then we'll be evaluation the damage and needs and of course, cater to the most vulnerable and the most affected by providing emergency health (care), water, shelter, whatever is needed."

The country was also gripped by a tense political standoff in April 2008 amid riots over skyrocketing food prices.

Seventy per cent of Haiti's population lives on less than two dollars per day and half of its 8.5 million people are unemployed.

"It is with great dismay that I have learned of the situation which has taken hold of Haiti. I immediately contacted members of the Haitian community of Montreal to convey my thoughts of hope and courage,"_said Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, whose Papineau riding in northern Montreal contains a large Haitian community.

He said he has made someone available in his office to co-ordinate any local help initiatives.

[El Bastardo]

Our Governor General for one...

[murd0c]

my dads leaving for the Domminican on Thursday for 5 weeks as well, better now then when hes there thats for sure.

[sunny_j]

what will happen to richmond if the earthquake hits here?

[Qmx323]

Originally Posted by sunny_j

what will happen to richmond if the earthquake hits here?

it'll be the modern day atlantis

[1exotic]

Originally Posted by sunny_j

what will happen to richmond if the earthquake hits here?

I think depending on the size of the earthquake, if it's big Richmond can sink about 15 feet... basically destroying a shit load of stuff if this happens.

and Vancouver could be hit by a Tsunami? I don't know, I guess it depends where it happens on the West Coast... California, Oregon, Washington, B.C.

[Greenstoner]

i've heard a speech from a firefighter saying a "research" predict vancouver will hit by earthquake within the 5 yrs - 8 yrs ..

the speech was 2008

[danned]

the earth is changing so much

[hal0g0dv2]

Originally Posted by Greenstoner

i've heard a speech from a firefighter saying a "research" predict vancouver will hit by earthquake within the 5 yrs - 8 yrs ..

the speech was 2008

nice

[q0192837465]

lol, ppl keep predicting stuff all the time. No one will remember if they'r wrong. But they'r right once, they become God.

I watched on Discovery that the margin of error for predicting earthquakes is measured in "hundreds of years". The big one may not even happen in our lifetime

[asian_XL]

people in Haiti are black? I always thought they are like spanish or something.

[v.Rossi]

Originally Posted by asian_XL

people in Haiti are black? I always thought they are like spanish or something.

nope, they're black. if you played video games, ie: gta vice city. you would know, thank you video games.

[ShyGuy]

estimating over 100,000 dead...

[quasi]

Originally Posted by 1exotic

and Vancouver could be hit by a Tsunami?

Vancouver Island would block any huge waves breaking them down for us, bless the Island people for shielding the important stuff.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Greenstoner

i've heard a speech from a firefighter saying a "research" predict vancouver will hit by earthquake within the 5 yrs - 8 yrs ..

the speech was 2008

Funny, I heard the same speach in elementary school in 1989.

[El Bastardo]

Haiti has fuck all for infrastructure. They're a shit country, I don't think anyone will disagree.

This might be a good time for them to be absorbed by another country. Canada, for instance. We've already been considering absorbing Turks and Caicos and at one time Jamaica. We can provide them the structure and financial support they need. It will also give us a place to build an additional naval base and additional natural resources to draw from.

I support an expansionist Canada

[Manic!]

Originally Posted by El Bastardo

Haiti has fuck all for infrastructure. They're a shit country, I don't think anyone will disagree.

This might be a good time for them to be absorbed by another country. Canada, for instance. We've already been considering absorbing Turks and Caicos and at one time Jamaica. We can provide them the structure and financial support they need. It will also give us a place to build an additional naval base and additional natural resources to draw from.

I support an expansionist Canada

I don't think most people in Canada would want all those people to become Canadian citizens with all the befits Canadians have.

[Fergus]

Returning to our COLONIALISM roots!!!

[Armind]

Text "Haiti" to 90999. 100% of your $10 donation passes thru to Red Cross for Haiti. You're cell phone will be charged.

[LenovoTurbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TYzMjI65YU

[josh t-1]

Originally Posted by El Bastardo

Haiti has fuck all for infrastructure. They're a shit country, I don't think anyone will disagree.

This might be a good time for them to be absorbed by another country. Canada, for instance. We've already been considering absorbing Turks and Caicos and at one time Jamaica. We can provide them the structure and financial support they need. It will also give us a place to build an additional naval base and additional natural resources to draw from.

I support an expansionist Canada

Multiple Caribbean Countries have been applying on a regular basis to become a part of Canada and the benefits look promising but there is only 1 major problem with this: Canada doesn't have the funds needed to bring these countries up to 1st world standards, we can barely afford our own healthcare let alone bring theirs up to our standards. There is also problems with both hard and soft sevices in these countries, roads need repair, street signs would have to be bilingual, there needs to be more firefighters etc... Canada has multiple times agreed that we would love to adopts Turks and Caicos, as well as Bermuda and Barbados but we just cant afford it yet. The government re-opens studies and runs the numbers ever 50 years to see if it will be a possibility soon.

so maybe if you support this then buy Canadian made products only and pay your taxes and maybe one day we will be able to afford these countries!

[1exotic]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

estimating over 100,000 dead...

estimate is 500,000+ now...

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

estimating over 100,000 dead...

poor guys

[illicitstylz]

[Nvasion]

sad....