Haiti death toll could run into thousands following quake

By Khanyisa Tabata
13 January 2010

The death toll in the worst earthquake ever to hit Haiti could run into the thousands.

The seven-magnitude quake which hit south of the capital Port-au-Prince wrecked the headquarters of the UN mission, the presidential palace and numerous other buildings.

It is reported that President Rene Preval and his wife survived the quake.

Early estimates are that reconstruction will cost the impoverished island billions of rands.

Two powerful aftershocks registering nearly six on the Richter Scale followed the disastrous quake.