2010 Haiti Earthquake; Catastrophic Disaster in Port-au-Prince

On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, with its epicenter just 25km from the capital, Port-au-Prince. The quake destroyed countless government buildings, hospitals, schools, and homes, paralyzing national governance. Due to poor construction quality and weak infrastructure, the disaster caused massive casualties, with estimated deaths between 100,000 and 316,000. Over 1.5 million people were left homeless, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis. The international community responded with a massive relief effort for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.