Death toll in Haiti from powerful earthquake rises to 2,207

By Sinan Dogan

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) – The death toll in Haiti from a powerful earthquake earlier this month has risen to more than 2,000, the country’s civil defense agency said Sunday.

At least 2,207 people are dead and 12,268 injured after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Aug. 14.

With over 100,000 homes destroyed or damaged from the quake, search and rescue efforts remain underway for more than 344 missing.

The epicenter of quake was 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

The country, which has suffered huge devastation and tremors, has called for international help.

One of the world’s most deadly earthquakes in the last century occurred in Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

According to official figures, 316,000 people died and 300,000 were injured in the magnitude-7.0 quake that struck the south of the country.

Around 1.3 million people were left homeless in the aftermath.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan