In the early hours of Tuesday, a preliminary magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck southern Haiti, resulting in the unfortunate loss of at least four lives and leaving 36 individuals injured, as reported by authorities.

The earthquake occurred before dawn in the vicinity of Jeremie, a coastal city in the southwestern region of the country. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter was located at a depth of six miles, the Associated Press reports.

Eric Mpitabakana, an official from the World Food Program based in Jeremie, shared his experience during the tremor, stating, “I thought the entire house was going to collapse on top of me,” in a phone conversation with The Associated Press.

The impact of the quake caused the collapse of two homes, and it also resulted in the obstruction of a vital route connecting Jeremie and Les Cayes, according to the information provided by Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency.

Written by staff