Haiti: Situation in the Montana Hotel

United Nations, New York, 14 January 2010 - International rescue teams arrived in Haiti , where tens of thousands of people are feared to be dead after a 7.0 earthquake struck on Tuesday (12 Jan).

Members of the French Civil Security rescued team based in Brignolles hit the ground ready for search, rescue, and recovery operations.

Michele Gilbert, one of the members of the French crew said that they brought heavy digging and listening equipment, adding that they also had doctors, nurses and medical equipment to treat the victims.

The Hotel Montana had 300 people in it when the earthquake struck, 100 managed to escape, 200 people remain trapped inside.

A Chilean contingent of U.N. peacekeepers, many of whom arrived just last week, helped excavate rubble at the hotel Montana and pulled people alive, including this young child.

Many people found themselves digging graves since there is no state authority left and there are thousands of bodies are scattered on the streets.

Source: UNIFEED, MINUSTAH

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• haiti
• Earthquake
• United Nations
• UN
• Secretary-General
• Ban Ki-moon
• UNIFED
• Humanitarian affairs
• Caribbean
• Port-au-Prince
• Damage
• Humanitarian emergency
• Victims
• Dead
• Natural catastrophe
• International support
• Natural disaster
• Update
• MINUSTAH
• Rescue effort
• Injured
• Montana Hotel
• French Civil Security
• Brignolles
• Michele Gilbert

[PRINCEDESGONAIVES]

May all those who perished at the Hotel montana on January 12th 2010 rest in peace. as they went to meet with Lord i am certain their work in Haiti have helped millions of haitians on this Island. my heart goes out to their families and loved ones. they may have gone to the other side but their work will go on their memories are imprinted in the hearts of the locals.

[mikeymars]

Latest detailed update I saw is that the rescue operation there is winding down; sniffer dogs haven't gotten a hit since Saturday and signs of life are no longer being picked up by the listening devices. Teams on site do know the location of some bodies (well over a hundred people are still missing there) but given how badly the structure pancacked the recovery operation will be extremely difficult. Access to site is bad so it has been virtually impossible to get heavy equipment in.

[shany9988]

Wow !! I cant believe the montana is gone.