Kimberly Amadeo has 20 years of experience in economic analysis and business strategy. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a very strong earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010. An estimated 200-316 thousand people were killed and some 300,000 were injured. Therefore, it is peculiar that the 2010 Haiti earthquake caused a tsunami in the Caribbean Sea, even though it was ∼27 km north of Hispaniola's Caribbean shoreline. Follow Twitter. Blakeman said Haiti had already been hit by many aftershocks - the two largest registering magnitude 5.9 and 5.5. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 M w earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. [8] [9]By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. Haiti In Ruins: A Look Back At The 2010 Earthquake : The Picture Show NPR photographer David Gilkey and correspondent Jason Beaubien were among those who rushed to Haiti … Share Pin Email ••• Kim Badawi / Getty Images. However there is evidence that both vertical and lateral movement can also occur on these faults - as when the 1701 earthquake struck. By. On the 12th of January 2010, Haiti was hit by an earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, and its capital, Port-au-Prince was levelled. Follow Linkedin. On the scientific scale that measures the magnitude (or strength) of an earthquake, the quake scored a magnitude of 7.0 M w.The center of the earthquake was near Léogâne, very close to Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city of Haiti.It was only about 25 kilometres (16 mi) west. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. [10] She writes about the U.S. Economy for The Balance. Waves up to three metres high hit sections of the nation's coastline. The earthquake of January 12, 2010 - as most of the destructive earthquakes in Haiti in the past - occurred on the segment, or rather on an offset segment, of the EPGFZE which is associated mostly with shallow earthquakes having left-lateral strike slips. Haiti's lack of economic resources and reliable infrastructure, however, made this one of the deadliest earthquakes of all time. Read The Balance's editorial policies. Full Bio. In terms of magnitude, this earthquake wasn't very remarkable; in fact, there were 17 larger earthquakes in 2010 alone. "We expect more aftershocks because this is a large, shallow earthquake," he said. Tsunami Event - January 12, 2010 Haiti Main Event Page The Haiti tsunami was generated by a Mw 7.0 earthquake (18.443°N 72.571°W ), at 21:53:10 UTC , 25 km (15 miles) WSW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (according to the USGS ). In addition to smashing buildings and killing more than 200,000 people, Haiti's devastating 12 January earthquake produced two 3-metre tsunamis, scientists announced on 24 February at a … Around 1.5 million people were displaced (left homeless) and some 280,000 people remain so today (CNN Library, 2014). Haiti Earthquake Facts, Its Damage, and Effects on the Economy The 2010 Earthquake Caused Lasting Damage . Haiti earthquake produced deadly tsunami. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing approximately 250,000 people and displacing another 1.5 million. In general, strike-slip earthquakes are also not expected to cause significant tsunamis because they are less effective at producing vertical seafloor motions.