Haiti earthquake devastates resort city of Jacmel

Debris lies in the street on Delmas Road in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, following Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the largest ever recorded in the area. (AP Photo/Jorge Cruz)

While most of the media attention regarding Tuesday’s horrific earthquake in Haiti rightly focuses on the capital of Port-au-Prince, it was not the only Haitian city to suffer devastation. The port city of Jacmel, located southwest of Port-au-Prince on Haiti’s southern coast, also was badly hit.

At least 20 percent of the buildings in the city of 40,000 were demolished, according to Guido Cornale, a Unicef official in Jacmel, and thousands of people left homeless by the destruction were seeking shelter at the city’s airport.

Founded in 1698, Jacmel is known for its beautiful 19th-Century architecture and its vibrant art scene. Wealthy coffee merchants built lavish homes here, which later influenced the architecture of New Orleans. The city hosts annual international film and music festivals.

The Ciné Institute in Jacmel, a school for future filmmakers, sustained heavy damage in the earthquake. The school's theater collapsed and there was damage throughout the rest of the school. Students and staff were digging through rubble to try to salvage equipment.

At 4:21 p.m., an aftershock measured at 4.9 on the Richter scale struck near Jacmel, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The continued danger posed by the aftershocks is why many Jacmel residents will choose to sleep outside tonight, including those at two orphanages run by the American charity JoyinHope.org.

"Tensions are high and emotions are high," said the charity's director, Rick Smith. "There's still a fear."

Smith said there was minimal damage to the orphanages and everyone at the orphanages survived the initial earthquake. A boy sitting on the roof of one orphanage structure jumped off when the earthquake hit and broke an ankle, but was able to receive medical attention last night and get the break set.

Much of the rest of the city was not so fortunate.

"About 70-75 percent of old Jacmel, which is like the waterfront downtown, is devastated," Smith said.

He said there had been no electrical service in the city since yesterday afternoon.

"Phone service has been spotty at best," he added. "We only have connected with them two times in the last 24 hours."

Fortunately, one of the orphanages has satellite Internet service and they have been able to stay in touch that way.

He said the orphanages provided assistance to about 200 people last night who were displaced by the earthquake,  including offering them food and water.

Smith encouraged people to donate to the charity of their choice to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. He said if they want to help his organization specifically, there is a donation link on the group's website.

Smith said the widespread destruction could lead to social unrest.

"We're a little bit concerned due to people's emotions," he said. "We are concerned about looting and rioting."

Normally, Jacmel’s peaceful, laid-back atmosphere offers a stark contrast to the urban jungle of Port-au-Prince, making it a popular retreat for tourists.

Just last week, according to USA Today lodging expert Barbara de Lollis, Choice Hotels announced it would be opening two properties in Jacmel. A 32-room Comfort Inn was scheduled to open in May and construction was scheduled to begin soon on another hotel.

“I was driving back to Jacmel in the mountains when the entire mountain seemed to fall down all around me,” Emmet Murphy told AFP. Murphy is the local head of the non-profit organization ACDI/VOCA, which works to improve infrastructure in developing countries.

Chicago residents with family in Haiti were still trying often unsuccessfully Wednesday to reach loved ones in Port-au-Prince and other communities. The Chicago Tribune reported many were gathering at the Grace Haitian Alliance Church on the city's south side.

"We're mourning," Pastor Jean Osee Lilite told the newspaper. "The whole nation is hit pretty hard, so people are in tears."