7.0 Earthquake Hits Haiti

CLICK TO READ STATEMENT FROM WYCLEF JEAN

A major earthquake struck just off the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, sparking a tsunami watch for parts of the Caribbean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, told CNN he had little information about the extent of damage from the quake, which had a reported magnitude of 7.0. But he said the suffering inflicted on the impoverished Caribbean nation was likely to be 'catastrophic.'

Joseph said one government official -- the only one he was able to reach -- told him houses had crumbled 'on the right side of the street and the left side of the street.'

The quake had a reported magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles (16 km) off the coast and about 6 miles (10 km) underground, according to the USGS. Are you there? Submit an iReport

A tsunami watch was posted for Haiti and parts of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, but historical data suggests a destructive, widespread tsunami was not a threat, the USGS reported. The quake could be felt strongly in the eastern Cuban city of Santiago, about 250 miles west of Port-au-Prince.

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GlobalGrind has spoken to some people on the ground in Haiti, and they are telling us that things are getting worse by the minute.  Buildings are falling down, there are dead bodies.  They have felt many after-shocks, and they think they are over, but they are just beginning to see the damage that has been done.

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