Haiti: Two persons killed, 200 houses damaged in recent earthquake

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake, followed by a series of minor shocks, slammed southwest Haiti, killing at least two people and prompted officials to close schools on Monday.

The first earthquake struck in the city of Les Cayes, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday morning, followed by tremors of 4.4 and 5.1 magnitudes, according to the US Geological Survey.

According to the Associated Press and AFP news agencies, two persons lost their lives, citing Haiti's civil protection department.

A guy died when a wall collapsed in Anse-a-Veau, a small seaside hamlet 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of Port-au-Prince, according to AFP, while another man died in a landslide in Fond-des-Negres, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south.

The local civil protection services said that about 200 homes collapsed and around 600 others were damaged in the Nippes district. About 50 individuals were hurt, according to rescuers.

In August, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti, destroying tens of thousands of homes and forcing many to sleep outside in severe rains.

The Caribbean nation is still reeling from a 2010 earthquake that claimed the lives of over 200,000 people.

President Jovenel Moise was slain in his house in July of last year, exacerbating the country's long-running political turmoil.

Armed gangs have now reinforced their grip on the island, resulting in an increase in deadly violence and kidnappings.

Canada convened a virtual discussion on Haiti on Friday, with representatives from 19 countries in attendance. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada stated that "urgent action" was required to solve the country's security crisis, and committed an additional $39 million in aid.

In February, a donors conference will be held, and the United States and other countries are likely to contribute substantial contributions.

In the meanwhile, Jean Robert Leger, a resident of Pestel on the southern peninsula, stated the earthquake's impact appeared to be minor.

"There isn't as much damage in Pestel," he told the Reuters news agency over the phone. "We observe that the already damaged houses along the water have crumbled even more."

Even though there was no damage, children raced out of school buildings in Les Cayes, and "everyone were afraid," according to one local.

The shallow quakes sparked panic, according to Sylvera Guillame, director of Haiti's public protection organisation for the country's southern area. As a precaution, he claimed, schools in the region were shuttered and children were sent home.