7.0 earthquake rocks Haiti. More to follow…

This is a bad one. Heavy building damage reported; reports of people screaming in the streets. No casualties yet. Fears of tsunami beginning to build.

Update: Monitor tweets sent from the region.

The latest info, after the cut…

***PHOTOS OF THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE NOW COMING IN***

The wires are filling up with reports like this:

The epicentre of the quake, which was initially reported a magnitude 7.0 off the coast, was located inland, six miles (10 km) west of Carrefour, close to the capital Port-au-Prince and was only 20.5 miles (30 km) deep.

A major earthquake, of magnitude 7 or higher, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties.

Update: Aftershock of 5.9 strikes Haiti…

Tweet from the island:

Just experienced a MAJOR earthquake here in Port au Prince – walls were falling down. – we are ALL fine – pray for thos

Diplomat: This was ‘a disaster of epic proportions’ on our island.

Earthquake (obviously) felt quite strongly on the other side of the island:

Yea I felt that n I live in dr it was bad

That tweet coming from a Dominican Republic resident.

The AFP has more:

An AFP correspondent in Petionville said one three-story building was toppled, and a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets in panic.

No tsunami action just yet…

I’m seeing some pickup in the local tweets which could suggest a return of communications at least on a very basic level. Nothing in the way of images just yet.

Update: Reports suggest the Presidential palace suffered some damage.

As many as 3 aftershocks have hit the area according to this tweet.

This is the largest quake ever to hit the area.

Mobile lines congested =/ frigging earthquake

Still quite hard to get a line in the area…

Hearing audio (via CNN) of a broadcast out of Haiti. Sounds of chaos.