Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, was shaken by a powerful earthquake near the capital that destroyed a hospital, a school and the presidential palace, raising fears thousands have been killed.
The 7.0-magnitude temblor hit 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, a city of about 2 million inhabitants.
According to reporters," the quake had caused a major catastrophe." Communications to much of the country were cut off, and there were no official reports of casualties immediately available.
Port-au-Prince is in “total chaos,” with clouds of dust from collapsed buildings choking the city and fears that thousands may be dead, a school with children inside collapsed in Port-au- Prince, according to Unicef. A hospital was destroyed in Petionville, an upscale district near the capital city, bodies were seen in the streets(the extent of the casualties unknown), people were screaming for help or digging through rubble to find loved ones, houses slipping down hills, walls collapsing and landslides leaving roads blocked, which will impede any response by authorities.
Haiti’s first lady, reported that the presidential palace had partially collapsed, though President Rene Preval is safe.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. is offering full assistance to Haiti.
“We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance,” Clinton said during remarks in Honolulu. “And our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families, and their loved ones.”
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Though Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas is scheduled to dock at Labadee, its private island off the coast of Haiti, on Friday, travel agents are reporting their clients are unaffected by the earthquake that wreaked havok in the capital and the country. Site inspections of the offshore island of Labadee revealed no apparent damage to the cruise line’s buildings, pier and attractions.
The 7.0-magnitude temblor hit 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, a city of about 2 million inhabitants.
According to reporters," the quake had caused a major catastrophe." Communications to much of the country were cut off, and there were no official reports of casualties immediately available.
Port-au-Prince is in “total chaos,” with clouds of dust from collapsed buildings choking the city and fears that thousands may be dead, a school with children inside collapsed in Port-au- Prince, according to Unicef. A hospital was destroyed in Petionville, an upscale district near the capital city, bodies were seen in the streets(the extent of the casualties unknown), people were screaming for help or digging through rubble to find loved ones, houses slipping down hills, walls collapsing and landslides leaving roads blocked, which will impede any response by authorities.
Haiti’s first lady, reported that the presidential palace had partially collapsed, though President Rene Preval is safe.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. is offering full assistance to Haiti.
“We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance,” Clinton said during remarks in Honolulu. “And our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families, and their loved ones.”
http://www.afordabletravelhq.com/
Though Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas is scheduled to dock at Labadee, its private island off the coast of Haiti, on Friday, travel agents are reporting their clients are unaffected by the earthquake that wreaked havok in the capital and the country. Site inspections of the offshore island of Labadee revealed no apparent damage to the cruise line’s buildings, pier and attractions.
According to a media statement from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. the company is eager to take guests, as well as humanitarian assistance, to Haiti as soon as possible. At this time there are no plans to change the Independence’s scheduled arrival at Labadee on Friday, though the cruise line is awaiting confirmation from the Haitian government that its okay to dock.
Other ships scheduled to call on Labadee over the next two weeks are Navigator of the Seas on Monday, Jan. 18; Liberty of the Seas on Tuesday, Jan. 19; and Celebrity Solstice on Friday, Jan. 22.
Other ships scheduled to call on Labadee over the next two weeks are Navigator of the Seas on Monday, Jan. 18; Liberty of the Seas on Tuesday, Jan. 19; and Celebrity Solstice on Friday, Jan. 22.
Royal Caribbean Cruiselines worked through the years to develop Labadee has grown into strong ties with government officials, businesses and the people of Haiti.
At this point, no damage has been found after an initial inspection of Labadee. Further inspections are going to be conducted on the attractions and facilities to ensure that everything is safe for our guests.
Simultaneously, RCI are exploring multiple avenues to help with the humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti. They have reached out to relief organizations and the State of Florida to see how we can lend assistance with our ships scheduled to call at Labadee.
Family and friends of guests currently on a Royal Caribbean International ship schedule to call at Labadee should visit RoyalCaribbean.com for more information.
RCI will continue to monitor the situation in Haiti for more information as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, RCI sympathy goes out to the people of Haiti in the face of this tragic event.
At this point, no damage has been found after an initial inspection of Labadee. Further inspections are going to be conducted on the attractions and facilities to ensure that everything is safe for our guests.
Simultaneously, RCI are exploring multiple avenues to help with the humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti. They have reached out to relief organizations and the State of Florida to see how we can lend assistance with our ships scheduled to call at Labadee.
Family and friends of guests currently on a Royal Caribbean International ship schedule to call at Labadee should visit RoyalCaribbean.com for more information.
RCI will continue to monitor the situation in Haiti for more information as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, RCI sympathy goes out to the people of Haiti in the face of this tragic event.
For more information please email us at : charmaine@affordabletravelhq.com
http://www.affordabletravelhq.com/
http://www.affordabletravelhq.com/
