Toll from Haiti earthquake jumps to almost 1,300 dead, 5,700 injured

The death toll from the earthquake in Haiti has risen to 1,297 with 5,700 others injured, CNN reported.

The country’s civil protection agency confirmed to CNN that 1,054 of the fatalities happened in the south region of the country, 119 in the Grand’ Anse, 112 in the Nippes region, and two others in the northwest. 

The agency added the natural disaster destroyed or damaged more than 27,000 homes and hospitals are unable to provide medical aid and supplies due to road blockage, according to CNN. 

Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake is being compared to the 2010 quake that left an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 Haiti citizens dead. 

The latest disaster comes a month after the assassination of then Haiti President Jovenel Moise, by a group of assailants who raided his private residence. 

In a statement on Saturday, President Biden shared that he was “saddened” by the news of the earthquake, adding the country is currently going through a “challenging” time. 

Biden added that U.S. would support relief efforts in Haiti and said he was assigning USAID Administrator Samantha Power to lead his administration’s efforts. 

Tennis star Naomi Osaka, who is of Haitian descent, announced that she will donate will prize money in an upcoming tournament to help with the relief efforts in Haiti.