New fear as Haiti is hit by another tremor

Port-au-Prince, the devastated capital of Haiti, suffers renewed terror as it gets struck by a powerful aftershock

Haiti - World News - Marie Claire
Haiti - World News - Marie Claire
(Image credit: PA Photos)

Port-au-Prince, the devastated capital of Haiti, suffers renewed terror as it gets struck by a powerful aftershock

Haiti was once again struck by disaster as a powerful aftershock hit the already struggling capital of Port-au-Prince.

The tremor, measuring at 6.1 magnitude, struck at 6.03am local time and sent several more buildings crashing to the ground.

The streets were filled with screaming and choas, as clouds of dust rose from the latest rubble. Survivor Feling Jean Pierre, 46, an accountant, said his house went down and was gone in two seconds. ‘I watched my life disappear,' he said.

Although the tremor lasted just a few seconds, many locals are too frightened to return home.

‘It's the largest of the aftershocks so far but there are likely to be more over the next two or three weeks,' said Brian Baptie, from the British Geological Survey.

British donations have now risen to £31.5 million to help fund the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Relief operations are still ongoing from last week's earthquake, which has so far killed over 70,000 people, a toll that is expected to rise to up to 200,000, according to the UN.

The earthquake is thought to have left Haiti with over one million orphans, encouraging the previously slow foreign adoption process to be speeded up.

Matt and Mandy Poulter, from Pella, Iowa, had been waiting for adopt four-year-old Maya, from an orphanage in Port-au-Prince for three years. After the earthquake they flew to Haiti and finally secured a US visa in order to take her back to the US.

‘It's truly a miracle, every step of the way,' said Mrs Poulter.

The Poulters also took home four other orphans to be adopted by friends in the US.

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