Shattered Haiti hit by second earthquake measuring 6.1





A second powerful earthquake rocked the terrified survivors of Haiti yesterday.

It was unclear last night what effect the new quake - measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale - would have on the relief operation. The first devastating quake measured 7.

It was the most significant of 40 aftershocks since the January 12 quake, striking 35 miles north-west of Port-au-Prince, where screaming people ran into the streets and buildings shook.

Mass exodus: People wait for a boat to Jeremie at a Port-au-Prince dock. The town, in the west of Haiti, is outside the zone worst hit by the earthquake

Overflowing: A Haitian boat crammed with refugees sails past amphibious dock landing ship U.S.S. Carter Hall

One woman died of a heart attack but there were no reports of extra casualties.



A massive international aid effort has been struggling with logistical problems, and many Haitians are still desperate for food and water.



The World Food Programme said more than 250,000 ready-to-eat ration packs had been distributed in Haiti by Tuesday, reaching only a fraction of the three million people thought to be in desperate need.



The WFP said it needs to deliver 100million ready-to-eat rations in the next 30 days, but it had only 16million meals in the pipeline.



A major aid agency claimed yesterday that victims had died because the U.S. military refused to allow its plane carrying emergency supplies to land.



Medicins Sans Frontiers said a flight carrying 12 tons of medical supplies had been turned away from the congested Port-au-Prince airport and claimed five patients had died as a result.



A doctor said he had been forced to buy a saw from a market stall to carry out amputations when the plane was carrying a mini hospital and medical supplies.



Attempt at normality: A woman has her hair done in a makeshift refugee camp in Port-au-Prince

Reeking: Haitian people walk next to a canal turned into a rubbish dump

STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN GUATEMALA

A strong earthquake has rocked Guatemala and parts of El Salvador, but no there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in either country. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.0. The USGS said it hit Monday morning about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City, where it was felt by many residents. There were reports of shaking in the Guatemalan countryside and in El Salvador as well. Civil protection officials in the two countries said so far there are no reports of injuries or damage, but authorities are still checking.

The group Partners in Health, co-founded by the deputy UN envoy to Haiti, Dr Paul Farmer, said its medical director estimated 20,000 people are dying each day who could be saved by surgery.



The U.S., which has taken over the running of the main airport and has fiercely defended its work in the face of massive logistical challenges, has already been accused by a French minister of acting like an 'occupying' force.



The U.S. Air Force said it had raised the single runway airport's daily capacity from 30 flights before the quake to 180.

Lenis Batiste, who is camped out in Port-au-Prince with his two children said the latest quake felt 'really strong'.

'Each aftershock is frightening. We feel it right here (pointing at his stomach) because after last Tuesday you never know how strong it is going to be,' he said.



'It kind of felt like standing on a board on top of a ball,' said US Army Staff Sgt Steven Payne who was preparing to hand out food to refugees in a tent camp of 25,000 when the aftershock hit.



A Disasters Emergency Committee spokesman said yesterday: 'In the middle of an extremely challenging aid operation, where many survivors are already terrified of aftershocks, the news of today's tremors are of grave concern.

'We are assessing the impact of the aftershock with our field staff to see if there has been further large-scale disruption to survivors and aid operations.



'As the full scale of the tragedy unfolds, there is still an urgent need for more funds and we continue to rely on the generosity of donors.'



International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told MPs that the British search and rescue team was safe following the tremor.



At question time in the House of Commons, he said: 'Since I've arrived in the House this morning, there has been a significant aftershock registering 6.1 on the Richter Scale but the word that I have received is that our search and rescue team is safe and are continuing their work.'

Anarchy: Looters continue to run away with goods they have stolen from wrecked buildings in Port-au-Prince

Escape: Thousands have tried to flee Haiti in the wake of the disaster

Haiti has experienced a series of more than 40 aftershocks since last week's earthquake - of which this is the strongest. At 6.1, it is significant enough to be described as a quake.

Official estimates have put the death toll for last week's disaster at 200,000, with 250,000 injured and 1.5 million homeless.



A massive international aid effort has been struggling with logistical problems, and many Haitians are still desperate for food and water.

The situation has prompted hundreds to flee the island, cramming on to ramshackle ships to escape the chaos.



Thousands of others are camped out at ports and in bus stations, willing to snatch any means to get out of the quake zone.

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