Comments | ontd_political: Worst Earthquake in 200 Years

akuma_river in ontd_political

Worst Earthquake in 200 Years

Jan 13, 2010 08:06

Haiti Earthquake: Capitol Shattered By 7.0 Trembler

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natural disaster, haiti

Comments 129

ladypolitik January 13 2010, 14:17:42 UTC

The pictures and footage of the aftermath coming out...UGH. ;___;

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:20:14 UTC

We still haven't seen anything yet. Wait until the reporters get in.

It is horrible. And the Palace being basically destroyed (I finally found a picture of it and it is up) and it was built up to safety codes in 1918? It was one of the most safe built buildings...and it's basically gone.

ladypolitik January 13 2010, 14:24:20 UTC

That's the worst part--we havent seen the worst of it, and it's already horrifying.

And yes, cant get over the state of the presidential palace. Un-fucking-real.

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:29:58 UTC

3 million people living in an area fit to support 40k.

It's going to be BAD.

So many shanty houses, tents, buildings... There is no real uniform building safety codes in Haiti....

Press is talking hundreds even thousands...I'm thinking upwards of tens of thousands.

The ONLY good thing is that this took place after normal work hours. So we shouldn't see epic scales of deaths like in China when the schools collapsed but this is still going to be horribly bad.

Thread 10

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akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:22:19 UTC

I doubt it. Communication towers are gone. That's why we are barely getting information from Haiti.

danyjoncew January 13 2010, 14:25:30 UTC

Yeah, even the Haiti embassies and consulates can't get that much info. All I've really seen so far come from people being able to use their internet/webcams.

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:32:57 UTC

WiFi, cell phones. That's how we are getting information.

They can't get planes in. They can't drive in (well they can but it's going to take a long while and that's the path the reporters are taking from the Dominican Republic), ships will take so long...

It's god awful.

Thread 7

my_private_muse January 13 2010, 14:22:16 UTC

This is just heartbreaking. My heart goes out to them, as well as anyone who has loved ones there.

Does anyone know if germli has gotten in touch with family yet?

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:23:01 UTC

I doubt it. Communication towers are gone. That's why we are barely getting information from Haiti.

koalafrog January 13 2010, 14:23:01 UTC

Man, poor Haiti. They just can't get a break when it comes to natural disasters.

danyjoncew January 13 2010, 14:23:12 UTC

Wait, I'd read the airport was ok? I think there's an airplane leaving Brazil today with 14t of food. I'm hoping things will be more clear and organized by tonight.

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:24:35 UTC

The airport tower is gone which in effect messes with the airport. There is no way to land commercial planes. I'm not sure about the airport itself.

No one's seen it yet.

danyjoncew January 13 2010, 14:27:50 UTC

The UN said the airport is fully operational. I'm more worried about the local infrastructure that is needed to handle the aid.

akuma_river January 13 2010, 14:35:42 UTC

Ah, that's news to me.

I heard the tower was out but I guess the rest is fine. So they just need to set up some sort of tower to get the planes in.

I don't think there is a local infrastructure anymore.

This quake was so close to the surface. Only six miles below ground. And the type of fault.... I'm not sure many roads are going to be usable.

The US is sending a hospital ship and helicopters but it's going to take time to get there.