The epicenter of the quake was 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northeast Saint-Louis du Sud, according to the United States Geological Survey, which estimated "high casualties" and widespread disaster after the earthquake.

The hospitals in the country are overwhelmed with patients after massive destruction following the earthquake.

At least 136,800 buildings or more were damaged or destroyed, Haitian officials said.

In 2010, similar in strength to the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 160,000 people in the Caribbean country. (ILKHA)