Death toll from 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti rises to over 1,200 people

CNN

By Etant Dupain, AnneClaire Stapleton and Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN
Photo: CNN

 

The Haitian government declared a state of emergency after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the country Saturday, leaving at least 1,297 people dead and more than 5,700 injured, according to the country's civil protection agency.

Of the 1,297 fatalities, 1,054 are in the South administrative region, 119 are in Grand'Anse, 122 are in Nippes and two are in the Northwest region, the civil protection service reported on Sunday.

The quake destroyed 13,694 homes and damaged another 13,785, officials from the agency said. The destruction has also pushed hospitals to the brink and blocked roads that would carry vital supplies.

"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," Prime Minister Ariel Henry 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."

Publish : 2021-08-16 13:06:00

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