Which 2010 earthquake caused catastrophic damage in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince?

The 2010 Haiti earthquake caused catastrophic damage in Port-au-Prince and surrounding parts of Haiti. It struck on January 12, 2010, with a moment magnitude of 7.0 and a shallow focus near Léogâne, west of the capital.

The earthquake occurred on the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault system, a left-lateral strike-slip system near the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates. Several major aftershocks followed, including events above magnitude 5. The shallow depth and proximity to densely populated areas greatly increased the destruction.

Government buildings, hospitals, homes, schools, and infrastructure collapsed or suffered severe damage. Death estimates vary widely because records were disrupted and the disaster was immense; widely cited estimates range from roughly 100,000 to more than 200,000 deaths.

The event shows why earthquake risk depends on more than magnitude. Building quality, population density, emergency preparedness, geology, and access to medical care strongly influence human consequences.