Powerful Earthquake Rocks Haiti, Many Feared Dead

Tuesday's earthquake was centred about 15km south-west of Port-au-Prince, according to the US Geological Survey. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A magnitude 7,3 earthquake off the Haitian coast has rocked the capital and sparked a tsunami alert for states in the immediate vicinity.

Eyewitnesses reported that a hospital and other buildings had collapsed and people were calling for help, the BBC reported.

Tuesday's earthquake was centred about 15km south-west of Port-au-Prince, according to the US Geological Survey.

It was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5,9 and 5,5 magnitude.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect "coasts located usually no more than a 100km from the earthquake epicentre".

A tsunami watch was in effect for Haiti, the neighbouring Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas.

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