(CNN) -- 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.

The Associated Press reported that a hospital had collapsed.

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.

"It was very strong. It lasted for almost a minute," said Marlon Romaguera, who runs a bed-and-breakfast there

(CNN) -- 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."

"The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best," he said.

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 Associated Press reported that a hospital had collapsed.

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.

"It was very strong. It lasted for almost a minute," said Marlon Romaguera, who runs a bed-and-breakfast there.

7.3 quake hits Haiti

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 has hit Haiti where a hospital has collapsed and people are screaming for help, according to The Associated Press.

There are no immediate reports of damages or casualties.

The earthquake was centred about 22 kilometres west from the capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

An Associated Press videographer saw the wrecked hospital in nearby Petionville, and a U.S. government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.

"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a visiting official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "The sky is just gray with dust."

Bahn said he was walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake.

"I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."

Bahn said there were rocks strewn all over the place and he saw a ravine where several homes had been built.

"It's just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire," he said.

A tsunami watch is in effect for Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

With files from The Associated Press
http://news.ca.msn.com/to...d=23240920

That's the LAST thing they need.

matthewgrant said:

Who on earth put these two sentences together?

This is going to be VERY bad.

I wonder if we have a long enough news attention span to really see the full extent of the damage.

That's the LAST thing they need.

SCNDLS said:

Exactly, that country is in a deep mess as it is. I saw the pics.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A Catholic Relief Services representative in earthquake stricken Haiti told US colleagues before phone service failed that "there must be thousands of people dead," according to a spokeswoman for the aid group, Sara Fajardo.

Speaking from the capital of Port-au-Prince, Karel Zelenka said the situation was "just total disaster and chaos".

There are also reports that the presidential palace in Haiti has collapsed causing "substantial casualties and damage" after the 7.0 earthquake which shook the country today.
The largest quake ever to hit Haiti also collapsed a hospital where people were heard screaming for help. Other buildings were also damaged and scientists said they expected "substantial damage and casualties."

I got family over there and right in the region of the quake

I got family over there and right in the region of the quake

I'll say a prayer for you. Such a shame. I heard Wyclef Jean is asking people to help.

I will donate what I can, as soon as I decide which organizations to send the donations too.

for their safety.

With the phone lines being down it must be scary not knowing.

2elijah said:

luv4u said:

Thanks you guys

From one Caribbean sista to another, that's no problem. I was just cleaning out extra clothes, shoes and was going to put them in the clothing bins to give to charities, but I think I will hold on to them and find out where I can donate them to help the earthquake victims. Let's hope a second earthquake doesn't hit the neighboring islands as well.

CNN seems to be the only one reporting it for now.

2elijah said:

Yeah let's hope; there were a lot of aftershocks

2elijah said:

Yeah let's hope that's all; there were a lot of aftershocks

My mother's been tuned in and has been on and off the phone since I told her the news
[Edited 1/12/10 18:05pm]

Hopefully, none of your family members are hurt.

matthewgrant said:

Who on earth put these two sentences together?

Haiti had a slave revolt and kicked the French the fuck out!
As a result, they've always been treated like shit by Europe and the U.S in terms of aid.(gotta teach the darkies a lesson)


Hopefully, countries will do the right thing and give some assistance.