By Howard Koplowitz
The borough’s Haitian population is on edge after a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the West Indian nation Tuesday, destroying the National Palace, government buildings, schools and hospitals, the Associated Press reported.
The Haitian consul general in New York said Haitian Prime Minister Rene Preval said 100,000 or more Haitians are feared dead.
Haitian-born Whitestone artist Patricia Brintle said her family was particularly hit hard by the quake.
Brintle, 63, who grew up in Port-au-Prince, said she was unable to get a hold of family members but her cousin in Florida made contact with them.
“I have a cousin whose home was destroyed and he passed away,” said Brintle, whose family in Haiti lives near Port-au-Prince in Petionville, . “A few of my cousins’ homes have been destroyed. The homes that are standing up, people are afraid to go back in because they’re scared of the aftershocks.”
Brintle said she has a friend who was under rubble and efforts are being made to rescue her.
“She’s alive and they’re trying to get her out,” she said.
Other family members are unaccounted for, Brintle said.
“Some of the cousins we haven’t heard from, so we don’t know whether they’re alive or dead,” she said.
The quake hit at 4:53 p.m. Tuesday, with its epicenter 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince – the most powerful earthquake in Haiti in more than 200 years, the AP said.
Thousands of structures were leveled, according to the AP, including schools, the National Palace and the U.N.’s peacekeeping headquarters.
Felix Augustin, the Haitian consul general in New York, said the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “is a pancake.”
“We are very concerned. We need the help of the international community,” Augustin said. “We’re talking about the possibility of 100,000 dead.”
Donovan Richards, chief of staff to City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), said the councilman’s office will be holding a relief effort for Haiti.
Most of Queens’ Haitian-born population resides in the southeast portion of the borough, particularly in Queens Village and Cambria Heights.
“The councilman pretty much wanted to make sure we aid the people of Haiti to the fullest extent after this disaster,” Richards said.
A collection drive at the councilman’s Laurelton office at 234-26 Merrick Blvd. is set to start on Monday, Richards said. Clothing and medical supplies are appreciated.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall called on borough residents to assist Haiti.
“Although communications with Haiti are difficult at best and the country’s electrical power has been greatly affected, many Queens residents are anxious about relatives and loved ones and desperate for information,” Marshall said.
The borough president said the U.S. State Department has set up a phone number for Americans seeking information about family numbers. The number is 888-407-4747.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
