Strong earthquake in Haiti: damage and collapsed buildings.
Tsunami warning lifted
Haiti, clashes and gunshots at the funeral of the slain president Jovenel Moise
In Haiti the earth shakes again: the images of the collapses caused by the earthquake
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16 August 2021 The confirmed victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti two days ago have risen to 1,297 and are still digging in the rubble even if with the passing of the hours the hopes of finding people still alive are fading.
The hospitals have welcomed over 5,700 injured and are now saturated.
The fear is that the situation could further worsen in the next few hours, due to the expected arrival of tropical storm Grace. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a state of emergency, the measure will remain in force for a month in a country already severely tried by a
profound civil and political crisis
: only a month ago the killing of President Moise.
Saturday's earthquake was stronger than the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 220,000 people but its epicenter was further away from the capital. The epicenter of the earthquake was located 8 kilometers from Petit Trou de Nippes, at a depth of 10 kilometers and the first shock was followed by others, in a seismic swarm that continues to shake the island. A second violent shock this morning.
Pope Francis' appeal: "the international community be in solidarity"
The Pope at the Angelus prayed for the people affected by the earthquake. "I wish to express my closeness to those dear peoples hit hard by the earthquake. As I raise my prayers for the victims to the Lord, I address my word of encouragement to the survivors, hoping that the participatory interest of the international community will move towards them - he underlined the Pope, the solidarity of all may alleviate the consequences of the tragedy ".