LAST UPDATE | 16 Aug 2021

THE DEATH TOLL from the powerful earthquake that struck Haiti over the weekend has risen to 1,419 – while the number of injured people has grown to 6,000, the Caribbean nation’s Civil Protection Agency said.

The earthquake destroyed thousands of homes, offices, homes, churches and other structures.

And the devastation could soon worsen with the coming of Tropical Depression Grace, predicted to reach Haiti on Monday night with strong winds, heavy rain, mudslides and flash flooding.

Saturday’s earthquake also left at least 5,700 people injured in the Caribbean nation, with thousands more displaced from their destroyed or damaged homes.

Survivors in some areas are sheltering in streets or soccer fields with their few salvaged belongings while overloaded hospitals scramble to help those who were injured.

The devastation could soon worsen with the coming of Tropical Depression Grace, which is predicted to reach Haiti tonight and could bring heavy rain, flooding and landslides.

The earthquake struck the south-western part of the hemisphere’s poorest nation, almost destroying some towns and triggering landslides that hampered rescue efforts in a country already struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, a presidential assassination and a wave of gang violence.

The epicentre was about 125 kilometres west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said, and aftershocks continued to jolt the area yesterday.

Hospitals in the area near the epicentre of the earthquake have been struggling to deal with the massive influx of people injured.

A 7.0-magnitude quake in January 2010 left much of Port-au-Prince and nearby cities in ruins, killing more than 200,000 people.

Rainfall could reach 15 inches in some areas.

“We are working now to ensure that the resources we have now are going to get to the places that are hardest hit,” said Jerry Chandler, head of the agency, said.

He referred to the Haitian provinces of Cayes, Jeremie and Nippe, which are in the country’s southwestern portion.