Haiti Earthquake, 2010

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The 2010 Haiti earthquake occurred on January 12, 2010, with a magnitude of 7.0. It struck near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 kilometers west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The epicenter was located at 18.457°N, 72.533°W, with a depth of about 13 kilometers. The earthquake was caused by a slip along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault, a prominent strike-slip fault in the region. The impact was severe, affecting an estimated three million people and causing widespread destruction. The earthquake resulted in a significant loss of life, with death toll estimates ranging from 100,000 to over 300,000. It also left more than a million people homeless and damaged nearly half of all structures in the epicentral area. Many government and public buildings were destroyed, including the National Palace and major educational institutions. The disaster exacerbated existing economic and health challenges in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. The aftermath included a cholera outbreak and severe disruptions to infrastructure and daily life.