Officials in Haiti have verified that at least 724 people have died as a result of Saturday’s strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation.
Rescuers are sifting through the rubble in the hope of finding survivors.
The quake levelled homes, churches, and schools, among other structures. Some hospitals were overburdened and in desperate need of supplies.
Officials said an unknown number of people are missing, and at least 2,800 people have been hurt.
The calamity adds to the impoverished country’s troubles, which are already exacerbated by a political crisis following the assassination of its president last month.
The damage appears to have been concentrated in the southwest of Haiti, particularly around the city of Les Cayes.
Residents were seen desperately trying to extract people from the remains of buildings in footage shared on social media.
