Haiti 2010 EQ

When did the Haiti earthquake occur?

12 January 2010 at 16:53

What was the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake?

Magnitude 7.0

Where was the epicentre of the earthquake?

About 25 km southwest of Port-au-Prince

How deep was the earthquake focus?

Very shallow at around 10 km

What tectonic setting is Haiti located in?

On a microplate moving east, bounded by multiple faults

How often do large earthquakes affect Haiti?

Roughly every 60 years but with no regular pattern

Why was Port-au-Prince especially vulnerable?

Poor infrastructure, lack of planning, and proximity to the fault

What proportion of Port-au-Prince was destroyed?

Around 60% of the capital

How many people were killed by the earthquake?

Approximately 230,000 people

How many people were affected overall?

Around 3 million people, about one third of the population

What proportion of buildings collapsed in Port-au-Prince?

About 70% of buildings collapsed

What was a major primary physical effect of the earthquake?

Land movement of around 11.8 metres along the fault

What were major secondary health impacts?

Cholera outbreak, amputations, and untreated injuries

How many people were left homeless?

Around 1.5 million people

Why did cholera spread rapidly after the earthquake?

Lack of clean water and untreated waste entering rivers

What social impacts affected women and girls?

Increased rape and sexual violence in poorly lit camps

How did the earthquake affect education?

Around 80% of schools were destroyed

What happened to employment after the earthquake?

Around 20% of jobs disappeared

Why did many people migrate after the earthquake?

Loss of livelihoods, housing, and insecurity

What was the total economic cost of the earthquake?

Around $7.8 billion, equal to 120% of Haiti’s GDP

How did the earthquake affect Haiti’s currency and savings?

Currency devalued and savings were lost

Why do people live in tectonically active areas in Haiti?

Poverty restricts choice and work is concentrated in the capital

What role did deforestation play in worsening impacts?

Increased flooding, erosion, and vulnerability

How did the government respond immediately after the earthquake?

It largely collapsed due to destroyed buildings and loss of staff

Why was international aid coordination ineffective?

Too many NGOs, poor coordination, language barriers, and tied aid

What proportion of aid went directly to the Haitian government?

Only about 3.8%

What political impacts resulted from the earthquake?

Haiti shifted from a weak state to a failed state

Why was rebuilding slow even years later?

Lack of leadership, corruption, poverty, and lost institutional capacity

What building regulations existed before the earthquake?

There were no enforced building codes

What mitigation measures were introduced after 2010?

Building codes, mason training, and disaster planning units

Why were mitigation strategies largely unsuccessful?

Poor enforcement, lack of funding, and political instability

What happened when another earthquake struck Haiti in 2021?

High casualties showed lessons from 2010 were not learned

How did the earthquake affect people’s sense of place?

Trauma led many to leave Port-au-Prince permanently

What new settlement developed after the earthquake?

Canaan, an unplanned self-organised settlement near the capital