Haiti Earthquake – News

Catastrophic earthquake hits Haiti (Updated)

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A major earthquake measuring 7.0 magnitude hit Haiti Tuesday, January 12, shortly before 5 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. The initial quake lasted about a minute, followed by strong 5.9 and 5.5 aftershocks. The epicenter of Haiti’s earthquake was six miles west of Carrefour, just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti had been holding district assemblies for its 11 districts this week. General Superintendent J.K. Warrick flew into Haiti Tuesday afternoon for those assemblies. Communication with personnel in Haiti has been difficult due to phone lines being down, but Warrick was able to get a text message out from the Nazarene Seminary campus in Petion-ville, outside of Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday to say he and other church leaders on campus were safe. (Related: On-site in Haiti, Warrick calls on Nazarenes to pray and act)

What is not known is the full extent of loss of life or property damage beyond the campus walls. Bill Dawson, the region’s French Field Strategy coordinator who had also flown in for the meetings, Emailed the Caribbean Communications Office to say the situation “is grave and urgent.”

“There are many injured all over the city,” Dawson said Tuesday. “Major buildings, three and four stories, are down. … Neighbors who work for the United Nations report many injured … people carrying wounded through the streets.”

“We have no news yet of our Nazarene families off campus,” Dawson said. “The earthquake was centered in the mid portion of the Central District. Dr. Lucien Jean Baptiste is the D.S. (district superintendent) and is on the road for an assembly in the South Central portion of Haiti. We do not know his whereabouts or information on him and the driver yet.” (Update: Lucien Jean Baptiste and his driver are reported safe.)

The population in the capital area is approximately two million people, living in dense urban communities, and they continue to experience significant aftershocks. Catastrophic casualties and damage are expected, as Haiti’s weak infrastructure is not prepared for this kind of disaster.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with our Haitian family of more than 115,000 Nazarenes who have suffered such loss today,” Caribbean Regional Director John Smee said on Tuesday evening.

Please be in prayer for the Haitian people and the Nazarene churches in Haiti. Pray for those injured in the debris and those involved in relief efforts.

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