25 May 2005
WikiLeaks: DOS: Haiti Embassy to Washington re. Earthquake, Aftershocks Shake Port au Prince
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full
text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001449
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
OES
INR/IAA/MAC
STATE PASS TO AID FOR LAR/CAR
TREASURY FOR ALLEN RODRIGUEZ, GREGORY BERGER, WILLIAM
BALDRIDGE AND LARRY MCDONALD
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAN/WH/OLAC/ (SMITH, S.)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON PGOV HA
SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE, AFTERSHOCKS SHAKE PORT AU PRINCE
1. SUMMARY: On May 11, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake shook
Port-au-Prince, followed by aftershocks in subsequent days.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 5 miles south of the
center of Port-au-Prince. There were no reported injuries
and only very minor damage. Haiti has suffered from
earthquakes in the past and two fault lines traverse the
country, one in the north and one in the south. A more
severe earthquake would be catastrophic, as the government
of Haiti is unprepared to handle a natural disaster of any
magnitude. END SUMMARY.
2. On May 11, at 2058 local time, a magnitude 4.3
earthquake shook Port-au-Prince. The epicenter of the
earthquake was 5 miles south of the center of Port-au-
Prince. There were no reported injuries and only very minor
damage to the capital city. In the days following the
earthquake, Port-au-Prince has felt aftershocks, most
notably on May 14 at approximately 1900, May 23 at
approximately 0300 and May 23 at approximately 1445.
3. Historically, Haiti has suffered from a number of
earthquakes, including one in 1770 that destroyed Port-au-
Prince and one in 1842 that caused extensive damage in
northern Haiti and killed thousands. Two major fault lines
cross the country, one in the north and one in the south:
the southern fault line cuts through the southern part of
Port-au-Prince. Earthquake experts consider both faults
quite dangerous. The northern fault, in particular, has not
released significant energy in over 800 years. According to
experts, approximately 4 to 8 meters of left lateral
slippage has already accumulated and should it be released,
could register 8.0 or higher on the Richter scale, with no
forewarning. The soil conditions in Haiti are such that an
earthquake anywhere in the country could cause severe
liquefaction, whereby soil is turned to a quicksand type
liquid, which is a considerable threat to infrastructure
such as buildings, dams, bridges and highways.
4. COMMENT: The last thing Haiti needs now is an
earthquake. Compounding problems of political instability,
poverty and environmental degradation, the flooding last
September in Gonaives caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne
demonstrated how unprepared the Interim Government of Haiti
is to handle a natural disaster. A severe earthquake would
be catastrophic. On OFDA team will come to Port-au-Prince
in June to help the embassy coordinate its disaster
preparations, and to try to jump-start IGOH and donor
coordination and planning. END COMMENT.