A day before Jamaicans
observe Earthquake Awareness Day, the extent of the devastation of Haiti
due to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake which hit on Tuesday is still unclear.
However, there are fears that thousands of people may have died in what is that country's worst quake in two centuries.
The earthquake which hit just south of the capital Port-au-Prince, sent tremors across the Caribbean including Jamaica.
The Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies says the 7.0 earthquake was felt in Liguanea, Barbican, UWI, Half -Way -Tree, Heroes Circle, Kingston and St Andrew ,Seaforth, St. Thomas, Annotto Bay, St. Mary, Hope Bay, Portland.
It wrecked the presidential palace, United Nations (UN) headquarters, hospitals and other buildings.
A large number of UN personnel were reported missing by the organisation.
Many people have spent the night outside amid fears of more aftershocks.
Aid workers missing, feared dead
Meanwhile, the persons most likely to offer immediate help to Haiti, members of the resident U.N. Peace Keeping force, have been badly affected.
Reports say the five storey UN headquarters in the Haitian capital has been destroyed and some civilian and soldiers based there are feared dead.
Overnight, U.N. peacekeepers, most of whom are from Brazil, looked for survivors in the ruins of what had been their headquarters.
U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said late Tuesday that no one had been rescued.
According to Le Roy, many UN personnel were missing, including mission chief Hedi Annabi, who was in the building when the quake struck.
Some 9,000 peacekeepers have been in Haiti since a 2004 rebellion ousted the president.
A state newspaper in China said eight Chinese peacekeepers serving in Haiti were known dead and 10 were missing.
Jordan's official news agency said three of its peacekeepers were killed and 21 others injured.
No word from Gov't officials
And there are fears about the ability of the Haitian Government to function in a crisis like this one.
Since the quake struck, there has been no official statement from the President Rene Preval or any Government minister.
Much of the National Palace collapsed on itself, but Haiti's ambassador to Mexico, Robert Manuel, said President Rene Preval and his wife survived the earthquake.
Ambassador Manuel said he had no details.
The ornate presidential palace is the seat of Government housing the President's office.
Several Government buildings have also been badly damaged or collapsed.
With electricity grid damaged and most phone circuits it will be difficult to coordinate relief efforts on the ground.
Additionally with the U.N. peace keeping force also severely impacted there are concerns about maintain stability, security and order given the devastation.
(Source: The BBC Caribbean Service)
However, there are fears that thousands of people may have died in what is that country's worst quake in two centuries.
The earthquake which hit just south of the capital Port-au-Prince, sent tremors across the Caribbean including Jamaica.
The Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies says the 7.0 earthquake was felt in Liguanea, Barbican, UWI, Half -Way -Tree, Heroes Circle, Kingston and St Andrew ,Seaforth, St. Thomas, Annotto Bay, St. Mary, Hope Bay, Portland.
It wrecked the presidential palace, United Nations (UN) headquarters, hospitals and other buildings.
A large number of UN personnel were reported missing by the organisation.
Many people have spent the night outside amid fears of more aftershocks.
Aid workers missing, feared dead
Meanwhile, the persons most likely to offer immediate help to Haiti, members of the resident U.N. Peace Keeping force, have been badly affected.
Reports say the five storey UN headquarters in the Haitian capital has been destroyed and some civilian and soldiers based there are feared dead.
Overnight, U.N. peacekeepers, most of whom are from Brazil, looked for survivors in the ruins of what had been their headquarters.
U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said late Tuesday that no one had been rescued.
According to Le Roy, many UN personnel were missing, including mission chief Hedi Annabi, who was in the building when the quake struck.
Some 9,000 peacekeepers have been in Haiti since a 2004 rebellion ousted the president.
A state newspaper in China said eight Chinese peacekeepers serving in Haiti were known dead and 10 were missing.
Jordan's official news agency said three of its peacekeepers were killed and 21 others injured.
No word from Gov't officials
And there are fears about the ability of the Haitian Government to function in a crisis like this one.
Since the quake struck, there has been no official statement from the President Rene Preval or any Government minister.
Much of the National Palace collapsed on itself, but Haiti's ambassador to Mexico, Robert Manuel, said President Rene Preval and his wife survived the earthquake.
Ambassador Manuel said he had no details.
The ornate presidential palace is the seat of Government housing the President's office.
Several Government buildings have also been badly damaged or collapsed.
With electricity grid damaged and most phone circuits it will be difficult to coordinate relief efforts on the ground.
Additionally with the U.N. peace keeping force also severely impacted there are concerns about maintain stability, security and order given the devastation.
(Source: The BBC Caribbean Service)
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