Haiti: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs near Nippes Department, at around 22:37 Aug. 14

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred offshore near Nippes Department at around 22:37 Aug. 14. The epicenter was about 11 km (7 miles) northwest of Petit Trou de Nippes. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and shaking was probably felt along most of western Haiti. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Maintain contact with diplomatic missions. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.