Haitian Earquake...worst ever!

[MrCleveland]

Ker Than

for National Geographic News

January 13, 2010

The magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday is the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than two centuries, geologists say. (See Haiti earthquake pictures.)

While earthquakes are not uncommon in the Caribbean island country, the recent Haiti earthquake's intensity surprised experts.

"It's quite strange" from a historical perspective, said Julie Detton, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Haiti is part of the island of Hispaniola, which also hosts the Dominican Republic. The last major earthquake to strike Haiti's side of the island was in 1860.

Yesterday's initial earthquake, which struck at about 5 p.m. local time yesterday, spawned dozens of aftershocks, about 15 of which were magnitude 5 or greater.

Whether the earthquake could trigger other major quakes is not known.

"It's not something that we can project is going to happen," Detton said.

"But definitely if you're moving two [plates] in one area, you're building up stress and strain in another."

Haiti Earthquake: Seismic Stresses

The Haiti earthquake was caused by the release of seismic stresses that had built up around two tectonic plates.

The motions of these plates create what are known as strike-slip faults, where two sections of Earth's crust are grinding past each other in opposite directions.

"The Caribbean plate is moving eastward with respect to the North American plate," Detton said.

When the stresses along the fault lines reach a certain point, they can be released in bursts of energy that cause earthquakes, although it's unclear when the energy will be discharged as a series of small quakes or as one big temblor.

Since Haiti is very close to the boundary where the Caribbean and North American plates meet, fault lines linked to the plates' movements run right through the country, Detton said.

In fact, the epicenter of the earthquake was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. (See a Haiti map.)

In addition, the Haiti earthquake was very shallow, being centered just 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) below Earth's surface.

This put impoverished Port-au-Prince close to the most intense shaking, contributing to the scale of the devastation: Thousands are feared dead and countless buildings have collapsed, from schools and hotels to the Haitian Parliament and local UN headquarters.

The American Red Cross estimates that the Haiti earthquake may have affected about three million people in total.

[Marvo301]

What's sad and is making things worse is the length of time it is taking for aid to reach the area.

[catlover79]

Sad, sad, sad.

[sunshinefizzy]

God help those poor people. What a traumatic expierience to go through.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

What's sad and is making things worse is the length of time it is taking for aid to reach the area.

I heard that Los Angeles Search & Rescue teams may be there as soon as today.

[catlover79]

I also heard on the news that the Haitian airports are now open, so it'll be much easier for the humanitarian aid to come in.

[Janice]

Terribly sad. I heard tens of thousands dead, possibly more. I saw some awful pictures. I hope they get the help they need.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

It's awful, especially in a country that's already poor and not well off. They're going to need all the help they can get.

[Pitooey]

It's sad to see the buildings all toppled and you know in your heart that there are people under there. So sad.

[Family Ties Forever!]

That's terrible. I'm really sorry to hear about it.

[Lee]

The prayers and hopes of me and the entire Ravenswood Church Of
Christ go out to the survivors and families of those of died in this tragedy.

[70s show watcher]

its one of the saddest things i have ever seen

[80sTrivia]

Such devastation and misery... my heart goes out to everyone suffering so unimaginably in a country where life has always been a challenge...

[USATVFAN]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

Such devastation and misery... my heart goes out to everyone suffering so unimaginably in a country where life has always been a challenge...

I heard that Al Roker and Brian Williams set up a tent on the tarmac and Ann Curry Slept in the Canada Air Baggage Container. But I guess where else are you going to sleep. there are no hotels around.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by The Jeffersons Fan

I heard that Al Roker and Brian Williams set up a tent on the tarmac and Ann Curry Slept in the Canada Air Baggage Container. But I guess where else are you going to sleep. there are no hotels around.

Exactly. Even the presidential headquarters are completely gone.