Loss of life toll from Haiti earthquake climbs to 1,941, with over 9,900 injured
Port-au-Prince, Haiti — The loss of life toll from the weekend earthquake in Haiti jumped to 1,941, with over 9,900 injured, Haitian officers mentioned Tuesday. The information comes as remnants of Tropical Melancholy Grace battered the nation with heavy rain, complicating search and rescue efforts.
CBS Information flew by helicopter to the hardest-hit areas as a result of a number of the roads had been blocked by mudslides. From the air, the destruction isn’t apparent — it is solely whenever you get on the bottom that the total scope of the destruction turns into clear.
In Les Cayes, one in every of Haiti’s largest cities, most of the houses and companies have been destroyed, forcing many to camp out within the open. Almost 20 miles north, within the village of Maniche, Mayor David Brinard mentioned 98% of the city has been obliterated. He mentioned essentially the most pressing want proper now are tents and supplies to rebuild houses.
One lady who spoke to CBS Information mentioned she misplaced her dwelling and her sister within the earthquake. She mentioned she is traumatized, does not have anyplace to go and many individuals within the village are sleeping outdoors.
The quake and tropical storm have mixed with a critical coronavirus outbreak to deliver the nation’s well being infrastructure to its knees. Overwhelmed hospitals within the hardest-hit areas are those nonetheless standing after Saturday’s monster earthquake. Many others had been diminished to rubble, leaving victims scrambling for assist anyplace they will discover it.
Residents in Maniche mentioned whereas their wants are pressing, the villages within the surrounding mountains are in dire straits. The roads are fully reduce off due to rubble and swollen rivers. They mentioned the one approach these villagers can get medical consideration is when somebody carries the injured by foot, which may take as much as two days.
