The Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) has published its second status report following the magnitude 5.9 earthquake on the Richter scale that occurred Saturday night in northern Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25744-haiti-flash-earthquake-of-59-in-the-north-of-haiti.html , the report covers the period from 1 am to noon on Sunday, October 7, 2018.

- At least three aftershocks have since been felt at the level of this department.

- New assessment : the earthquake caused the death of 12 people - 8 in Port-de-Paix, 1 in Saint-Louis du Nord (North-West) and 3 in Gros Morne (Artibonite). At least 188 people are injured, and 151 of them are cared for in hospitals in the North West, Artibonite and North departments. Dozens of homes are destroyed or damaged.

- The earthquake caused the fall of the front of the central police station of Port-de-Paix, which did not make a victim among the occupants. The rest of the building did not suffer visible damage.

- Civil Protection teams are at work across the country and especially in the North West where two slight aftershocks have been felt since. The Directorate of Civil Protection invites people to keep calm and not to rely on rumors.

Partial balance of damage :

Human losses

The assessment of the earthquake has risen to 12 deaths - 8 in Port-de-Paix, 1 in St. Louis North (North-West) and 3 in Gros-Morne (Artibonite). At least 151 injured were received and treated in hospitals that night.

Habitat

Several buildings are destroyed or damaged, including cases of cracked houses. The most concerned departments are North West and Artibonite. Building evaluations will continue this Sunday.

Infrastructure

No major damage has so far been reported with regard to road, port, airport, health, education, sports and telecommunication infrastructures, with the exception of a cultural center that collapsed in Gros-Morne, in the Artibonite. The office of the departmental delegation of Artibonite is strongly affected by the passage of the earthquake. The Gros Morne National High School also suffered some damage. In the north-west, the earthquake caused the fall of the front of the central police station in Port-de-Paix, which did not make a victim among the occupants. The rest of the building did not suffer visible damage.

Actions undertaken :

Search and Rescue

Civil Protection officers and brigadiers are deployed in the field for initial assessments, while specialized teams conduct search and rescue operations.

Assistance to the population

The assistance actions are initiated very early this Sunday morning. Convoys of food kits and drinking water are en route to the Great North, especially Port-de-Paix and Gros Morne.

Health

The health departments of the North, North-West and Artibonite departments mobilized their teams. Hospital centers in these departments received and treated 151 wounded, including for fractures and minor injuries. Medical emergencies have put severe pressure on hospitals. The Ministry of Public Health and Population has strengthened the hospital technical platform at Port de Paix and material support was provided early this Sunday morning to maintain the operational unit of the medical emergency management structures. In addition, patients, including head trauma, were evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in other departments.

The Haitian Red Cross has deployed a medical team this Sunday morning in the North West Department. A multidisciplinary team will be seconded as needed. The Haitian Red Cross carries out the shipment of blood bags to affected departments, taking into account expressed and potential needs. Thirty-five (17 globular concentrates and 18 plasmas) have already been transferred to Port-de-Paix.

HL/ HaitiLibre