Thousands feared dead as huge earthquake destroys Haiti presidential palace

Thousands of people were feared dead after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last night, toppling buildings and causing widespread damage and panic.

Haitian television reported that the presidential palace, many government buildings and a cathedral, along with roads and bridges, lay in ruins.

Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a clear picture of the damage as violent aftershocks shook the country, where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was lost in some places.

Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in the capital, Port-au-Prince, told American colleagues before the phone line went dead that “there must be thousands of people dead”.

Sara Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the aid group, based in Maryland, said: “He reported that it was just total disaster and chaos, that there were clouds of dust surrounding Port-au-Prince.”