A massive earthquake, registering 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale, struck Haiti, a Carribean country, in January 2010. It destroyed many buildings, disrupted communications and buried an unknown number of people underneath rubble.
Witnesses say bodies were lining the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, after the quake struck on Tuesday afternoon, sending a cloud of dust from falling buildings into the sky. The quake was centred about sixteen kilometers from the capital, and struck at a depth of just ten kilometers. At least 27 aftershocks were also recorded, the strongest of which came in at 5.5 and 5.9 magnitude.
Buildings across the capital have collapsed, including the presidential palace and the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The Notre Dame of the Assumption Cathedral in Port-au-Prince was also destroyed, killing Joseph Serge Miot, the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince.
UN officials reported that communications and power are out across the city, making it difficult to get accurate details regarding the full extent of casualties and damage.
The UN also noted that the main prison in Port-au-Prince collapsed, and there were reports of inmates escaping.
The Red Cross in Geneva says that up to 3 million people have been affected. The international aid agency added that there is an urgent need for search and rescue volunteers as well as field hospitals, emergency health, water purification and telecommunications.
Find information on the vocabulary from the text in the wordlist beneath. You can use the vocabulary trainer in the end to practise the words.
natural disasters
- earthquake, earthquakes [ˈɜː(r)θˌkweɪk]
(noun) - Definition:
- a shaking of the Earth, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults
- Example:
- An earthquake hit Haiti in January.
- aftershock, aftershocks
(noun) - Definition:
- an earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another, usually larger, earthquake
- Example:
- At least 27 aftershocks were also recorded.
- magnitude, magnitudes [mægnɪtjuːd]
(noun) - Definition:
- the absolute or relative size, extent or importance of something
- Example:
- Tthe strongest aftershock came in at 5.5 and 5.9 magnitude.
- magnitude scale, magnitude scales
(noun) - Definition:
- a device that measures the magnitude of a quake
- Example:
- A massive earthquake, registering 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale, struck Haiti.
- strike, struck, struck [stɻaɪk]
(irregular verb) - Definition:
- to hit something
- Example:
- A massive earthquake struck Haiti.
- disrupt
(verb) - Definition:
- to interrupt or impede
- Example:
- The massive earthquake disrupted communications.
- bury [ˈbɛɹi]
(verb) - Definition:
- to place in the ground
- Example:
- The earthquake buried an unknown number of people.
- collapse
(verb) - Definition:
- to fall down suddenly
- Example:
- Buildings collapsed due to the earthquake.
- rubble [ˈrʌb.əl]
(uncountable noun) - Definition:
- the broken remains of an object, usually rock or masonry
- Example:
- People were buried under rubble.
- damage, damages [ˈdæmədʒ]
(noun) - Definition:
- the abstract measure of something not being intact; harm
- Example:
- The earthquake caused a lot of damage to the country.
- aid [eɪd]
(uncountable noun) - Definition:
- help or assistance
- Example:
- The international aid agency added that there is an urgent need for search and rescue volunteers.
- volunteer, volunteers
(noun) - Definition:
- a person who offers any service of his own free will, especially when done without pay
- Example:
- The international aid agency added that there is an urgent need for search and rescue volunteers.
