Haiti hit by earthquake; tremors felt in Jamaica

Sections of Haiti were significantly affected by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 early Saturday morning.

News is just emerging of the quake which is believed to have done significant damage in Haiti which was devastated by a major earthquake in 2010, resulting in more than 200,000 people dying. 

Jerry Chandler, Haiti's Director of Civil Protection, confirmed in an interview with AFP news agency that "there are deaths but I don't yet have an exact toll."

Here in Jamaica, tremors were felt across the island but no structural damage has yet been reported. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Managfement reported that the earthquake's epicentre was 300km northeast of the eastern Jamaica town of Port Antonio, with a focal depth of 10km.

Professor Simon Mitchell, Director of Research at Jamaica's Seismic Research Unit, said the epicentre of this quake was closer to Jamaica than in the case of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and was therefore felt more strongly in Jamaica.

"I would imagine houses collapsed; I would imagine people have died. I don't think it's going to be a pretty scenario," Mitchell said regarding the possible impact on Haiti.