The Caribbean nation of Haiti has been struck by a serious earthquake leaving many dead.
According to the United States Geological survey (USGS), the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country’s west side with its epicenter about 12km (7.5 miles) from the town of Saint Louis du Sud.
Videos sighted on social media saw citizens running helter skelter for their lives.
Officials say fatalities have been recorded following the earthquake but tolls are unclear.
“I can confirm that there are deaths, but I don’t yet have an exact toll,” Jerry Chandler, Haiti’s director of civil protection, told AFP news agency.
According to the USGS, the earthquake experience in the Caribbean was recorded at a depth of about 10km.
“I woke up and didn’t have time to put my shoes on. We lived the 2010 earthquake and all I could do was run. I later remembered my two kids and my mother were still inside. My neighbour went in and told them to get out. We ran to the street,” Naomi Verneus, a resident of Port-au-Prince stated.