Haiti earthquake death toll rises to 1,297 as country braces for tropical storm Grace

Rescuers are desperately searching ruined building for survivors

Moment woman and child rescued from rubble after Haiti quake

The death toll from a devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti has risen to 1,297, officials have said as rescuers desperately search through the rubble of destroyed buildings for survivors.

Thousands more people are injured and displaced from their homes after the magnitude 7.2 quake struck on Saturday.

Hospitals in the Caribbean country are buckling under huge patient numbers while aid workers struggle to get supplies to the worst affected areas.

"There has been nothing. No help, nothing from the government," Jennie Auguste, a resident of the southwestern part of the country said.

Rescue and aid efforts could be hampered by a tropical depression sweeping the Caribbean. Storm Grace has already hit the Dominican Republic and is expected to reach Haiti on Monday and Tuesday, with rain and wind speeds of 40-50mph.

The civil protection agency said Haitians must expect strong winds, heavy rain, rough seas, landslides and flooding.

• Haiti death toll rises to nearly 1,300 after 7.2 magnitude earthquake
• Stars including tennis player Naomi Osaka make appeals for earthquake relief
• Why Haiti is prone to devastating earthquakes
• Haiti earthquake crisis: How to donate to help relief efforts from the UK

Key Points

• Tropical storm expected today
• Death toll rises to 1,297
• Rescuers desperate search through rubble for survivors
• Key facts

[16 August 2021 09:17 · Matt Mathers]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Haiti earthquake disaster

[16 August 2021 09:20 · Matt Mathers]

Full report: Death toll rises to nearly 1,300 after 7.2 magnitude earthquake

My colleague Lamiat Sabin has more detais on damage caused by the quake:

[16 August 2021 09:41 · Matt Mathers]

Prepare for flooding and mudslides, civil protection agency tells Haitians

Haiti’s civil protection agency is warning the public to prepare for mudslides and flooding as storm Grace hits.

Weather forecasters say the tropical weather system could arrive by Monday and remain until Tuesday.

The centre of storm may pass north of where the quake struck, although it is still expected to impact rescue efforts, officials say.

[16 August 2021 09:58 · Matt Mathers]

Why are earthquakes so devastating in Haiti?

The powerful earthquake that hit Haiti on Saturday killed hundreds and injured thousands more. The destruction comes just 11 years after a temblor killed tens of thousands of people, if not hundreds of thousands. Some 100,000 buildings were destroyed in the 2010 quake.

As rescuers search for survivors in the Caribbean nation, here's a look at why Haiti has had so many devastating earthquakes over the centuries and why they are often so devastating:

[16 August 2021 10:25 · Matt Mathers]

Celebrities make appeal for relief

Celebrities and public figures are using their platforms to appeal for support for Haiti after a powerful earthquake struck the country.

Cardi B, Naomi Osaka, Wyclef Jean and Rick Ross posted on social media, sharing well-wishes and prayers for the country.

My colleague Chelsea Ritschel reports:

[16 August 2021 10:39 · Matt Mathers]

Key facts

• Earthquake hit west Haiti on Saturday
• Epicentre about 12km (7.5 miles) from the town of Saint-Louis du Sud
• Tremors felt in Port-au-Prince, around 125km away (77 miles)
• Tremors also felt in the Dominican Republic
• At least 1,297 people dead, although officials fear true figure could be much higher
• At least 7,000 homes were destroyed and 5,000 more damaged

Firefighters search for survivors inside a collapsed building in Les Cayes (Associated Press)

[16 August 2021 11:10 · Matt Mathers]

Locals recover their belongings from their homes destroyed in the earthquake in Camp-Perrin, Les Cayes (Associted Press)

[16 August 2021 11:35 · Matt Mathers]

US vows to help Haiti recover

In a statement, President Biden said: "In what is already a challenging time for the people of Haiti, I am saddened by the devastating earthquake that occurred in Saint-Louis du Sud, Haiti this morning. We send our deepest condolences to all those who lost a loved one or saw their homes and businesses destroyed. I have authorized an immediate US response and named USAID Administrator Samantha Power as the senior US official to coordinate this effort.

"Through USAID, we are supporting efforts to assess the damage and assist efforts to recover those who were injured and those who must now rebuild. The United States remains a close and enduring friend to the people of Haiti, and we will be there in the aftermath of this tragedy."

[16 August 2021 11:51 · Matt Mathers]

WHO official and ‘outstanding epidemiologist’ dies in quake

A World Health Organisation official deployed to Haiti to help coordinate its Covid-19 response has died in the earthquake, WHO's director general said.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "outstanding epidemiologist" Dr Ousmane Touré played a key role in beating the Ebola crisis.

"My deepest condolences to his wife & young daughters," Mr Ghebreyesus added.

[16 August 2021 12:08 · Matt Mathers]

Gangs hampering rescue effort

Local officials organising rescue efforts had to negotiate with gangs in the seaside district of Martissant to allow two humanitarian convoys a day to pass through the area, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported.

The agency called Haiti's southern peninsula a "hotspot for gang-related violence," where humanitarian workers have been repeatedly attacked.

The agency said the area has been "virtually unreachable" over the past two months because of roadblocks and security concerns. Agency spokeswoman Anna Jefferys said the first convoy passed through Sunday with government and U.N. personnel. She added that the U.N.'s World Food Program plans to send in food supplies via trucks Tuesday.