The 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred on Saturday afternoon, Swedish time, about 16 miles of road from the capital Port-au-Prince, and 8 km from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes.

It is feared to have caused extensive damage in the southern parts of Haiti and the Red Cross is now preparing for a disaster response in the country.

- We must ensure that there is primary care and that the hospital has sufficient resources to receive the injured.

Many have been injured in the earthquake and are in need of protection after they moved from their houses, says operations manager Roger Alonso Morgui to SVT.

"Became extremely scared"

Tony Boiursiquot and Myrtha Dór are project managers at the organization The Star of Hope, which runs seven schools in the country, with a total of 35,000 children.

They were both in the capital Port-au-Prince when the quake struck.

- Everyone felt the quake and was extremely scared.

The people in the southern part of the country felt the most.

We have received reports of destroyed houses and churches, says Tony Boiursiquot.

Injuries and deaths are also reported, but the extent is still difficult to see.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that there is a risk of "thousands of deaths" and "tens of thousands injured in poor areas".

- Right now we are trying to find out how our children have done.

We have not yet received any information about material damage or lost lives from our project villages, says Myrtha.

Emergency issued

President Prime Minister Ariel Henry has issued a state of emergency for a month and is on his way to the area of ​​the quake center, where a disaster center has been set up.

Henry confirms that the earthquake caused "enormous damage", and the devastation seems to be worst in the areas of Grand'Anse, Nippe and in the southern parts, reports TT.

"I express my condolences to the relatives of the victims of this violent earthquake that caused many losses of human life and property in several geographical areas of the country," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

Jerry Chandler, who is in charge of a civil protection authority in Haiti, can confirm that at least 29 people have died, according to TT.