Port-au-Prince
Haiti Earthquake 2010
Key facts:
Hit on 12th January 2010
Magnitude 7 on Richter scale
Focus was 13km deep on a conservative plate boundary
Epicentre was 25km from Port-au-Prince
Aftershocks of magnitudes between 5.5 and 6 occurred in the following days
Unprepared for such an event, and could not respond adequately to the disaster
In the first few days, aid workers reported that no one seemed to be in charge
US troops provided security to maintain law and order and to help with distributing
aid
Environmental impacts:
About 19 million m³ of rubble was created
The water supply system was destroyed
Poorly built houses collapsed instantly
Economic impacts:
The port was destroyed, making it hard to get aid
Haiti’s factories were damaged, increasing economic loss
1 in 5 people lost their job
Crime and looting increased as the government and police force collapsed
Electricity, water, sanitation and communications were badly damaged or destroyed
Social impacts:
316,000 people died
300,000 people were injured
1.5 million people were left homeless
A prison collapsed letting 4,000 prisoners escape
10 months later a cholera outbreak killed over 8,000 people
Haiti Earthquake 2010
Key facts:
Hit on 12th January 2010
Magnitude 7 on Richter scale
Focus was 13km deep on a conservative plate boundary
Epicentre was 25km from Port-au-Prince
Aftershocks of magnitudes between 5.5 and 6 occurred in the following days
Unprepared for such an event, and could not respond adequately to the disaster
In the first few days, aid workers reported that no one seemed to be in charge
US troops provided security to maintain law and order and to help with distributing
aid
Environmental impacts:
About 19 million m³ of rubble was created
The water supply system was destroyed
Poorly built houses collapsed instantly
Economic impacts:
The port was destroyed, making it hard to get aid
Haiti’s factories were damaged, increasing economic loss
1 in 5 people lost their job
Crime and looting increased as the government and police force collapsed
Electricity, water, sanitation and communications were badly damaged or destroyed
Social impacts:
316,000 people died
300,000 people were injured
1.5 million people were left homeless
A prison collapsed letting 4,000 prisoners escape
10 months later a cholera outbreak killed over 8,000 people
