Haiti-new earthquake 6.1 magnitude aftershock

[Odie]

Can it get any worse?:(







PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A powerful new earthquake struck Haiti on Wednesday, shaking rubble from damaged buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets only eight days after the country's capital was devastated by an apocalyptic quake.

The magnitude-6.1 temblor was the largest aftershock yet to the Jan. 12 quake. The extent of additional damage or injuries was not immediately clear.

Wails of terror rose from frightened survivors as the earth shuddered at 6:03 a.m. U.S. soldiers and tent city refugees alike raced for open ground, and clouds of dust rose in the capital.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 35 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Port-au-Prince and 6.2 miles (9.9 kilometers) below the surface.

"It kind of felt like standing on a board on top of a ball," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Payne. The 27-year-old from Jolo, West Virginia was preparing to hand out food to refugees in a tent camp of 25,000 quake victims when the aftershock hit.

Last week's magnitude-7 quake killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless, according to the European Union Commission.

The new shake prompted Anold Fleurigene, 28, to grab his wife and three children and head to the city bus station. His house was destroyed in the first quake and his sister and brother killed.

"I've seen the situation here, and I want to get out," he said.

A massive international aid effort has been struggling with logistical problems, and many Haitians are still desperate for food and water.

[Jazzy]

I just saw this on the news and this is just terrible and the people there must be so scared.

[Clodhopper]

Dreadful. I hadn't realised aftershocks could be a week later. Or is it actually an altogether different quake? Not that it makes any difference to those on the ground.

[mikeinie]

that might make the tourists think twice..

[Odie]

Jazzy;1283676 wrote: I just saw this on the news and this is just terrible and the people there must be so scared.




Clodhopper;1283679 wrote: Dreadful. I hadn't realised aftershocks could be a week later. Or is it actually an altogether different quake? Not that it makes any difference to those on the ground.


I knew they can have aftershocks for months, but had no idea it could have been this huge of magnitude!:-5

I can only imagine the terror they are feeling again, a week later.:-1



mikeinie;1283681 wrote: that might make the tourists think twice..




Indeed it will Mike, as I watched the news, Canadians were rushed home from vacationing there.