Haiti earthquake in pictures: How natural disaster ripped an island apart




Distraught, covered in dust and desperate, the people of Haiti appear barely able to comprehend the tragedy that has overtaken them.

Many spent the desolate hours after the earthquake milling around in the streets or constructing the most rudimentary of shelters where they could cower for the night.

The quake itself measured 7.0 on the Richter scale- but some of the 30 aftershocks were almost as strong, leaving the shanty-towns of Port-au-Prince echoing with the heartrending sound of screams and sobs.

Some clustered together for comfort. Others lay prostrate in the street, unable to pick themselves up.

It is still difficult to assess the sheer scale of the devastation. When the earthquake came, buildings crumpled like paper and whole towns were swept down hillsides.



The wretchedly poor country of Haiti simply cannot afford to construct robust buildings to withstand such natural disasters - which is why the death toll is likely to number tens of thousands.



Distraught: The earthquake laid waste to much of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, including this woman's home in a shanty town on the outskirts of the city

Destroyed: Residents pass by collapsed buildings - only a cross remains standing Stunned: A woman crouches among the rubble in Port-au-Prince Landslide: Many poorly constructed homes were simply swept away by the magnitude of the quake A large section of Haiti's National Palace was destroyed in the earthquake Poverty stricken: A woman lies on the ground as others stand oustide a market that collapsed when the earthquake struck

Homeless: Hundreds spent the night at Place Boyer in Petion-Ville as aftershocks continued to decimate the region Reduced to rubble: Hotel Villa Creole in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, crumbled People in Port-au-Prince desperately search for survivors following the quake

Rescue: A woman is pulled from the ruins by two rescuers. Many have been forced to dig with their bare hands

Concertina: The poorly constructed buildings of Port-au-Prince simply could not withstand the quake



