(Reuters) – A new earthquake shook the devastated Haitian capital Port-au-Prince early on Wednesday, rattling already wrecked buildings and triggering panic among survivors of last week’s devastating quake.
The 5.9 aftershock hit at daybreak. Shrieking Haitians ran from buildings and walls, fearing a repeat of the magnitude 7 quake that killed tens of thousands of people eight days ago. Though the strongest shock since January 12, it did not appear to cause any major new destruction or to slow the international relief effort now bolstered by more U.S. troops.
“Things started shaking. We were really afraid. People came out into the street,” said Victor Jean Rossiny, a law student living in the street. “We have nothing here, not even water.”
Desperate and hungry residents of Port-au-Prince have been sleeping outdoors because their homes were destroyed last week or out of fear aftershocks would bring down more buildings.
