At least 304 dead after earthquake in Haiti

Over 300 people are dead in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Saturday.

Haiti’s Office of Civil Protection said search and rescue teams will be sent out, with at least 304 people confirmed dead from the earthquake, NBC News reported.

“The most important thing is to recover as many survivors as possible under the rubble,” Prime Minister Ariel Henry said.

“We have learned that the local hospitals, in particular that of Les Cayes, are overwhelmed with wounded, fractured people,” Henry added.

The prime minister has set a one-month state of emergency, as many buildings collapsed from the large earthquake.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefed President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris on the earthquake before Biden authorized assistance to Haiti. 

The earthquake comes 11 years after Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which the country has still not fully recovered from. 

A powerful local politician in Haiti is among the dead after his hotel collapsed during the earthquake. 

The initial death toll immediately after the earthquake was at 29 individuals. 

The tremors were reportedly felt in Jamaica, which is 200 miles away from Haiti.

Updated 9:18 p.m.