Earthquake Statistics

On January 12, 2010 a powerful 7.0 quake hit the impoverished nation of Haiti. It was followed by more than thirty strong aftershocks. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured. A year later, 1,000,000 people remain homeless.
In Port-au-Prince, 28% of surveyed buildings were collapsed, with 33% requiring repairs. In Léogâne, 62% of buildings collapsed and 31% require repairs. Buildings failed due to lack of earthquake-resistant design—including inadequate structural engineering, member dimensions, and detailing practices. Poor concrete construction was one of the primary causes for the destruction and loss of life.