Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) – The death toll has risen to 92, the majority being children, following the collapse of a school in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) on November 7. There are 150 hospitalized and it is feared that more bodies remain under the wreckage.
The place where the building, “The Evangelical Promise,” stood remained a pile of wreckage in Petionville, on the outskirts of the capital. The event occurred around 10am, while many children were inside the classrooms. The three-story building held a kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school, run by the religious group “The Evangelical Promise.” It is thought that when the building fell, there were probably between 200-700 children and adolescents inside. The uncertainty as to what actually occurred led to chaos in the area, witnesses say. A total of 58 children were rescued alive from the wreckage and taken to the hospital “La Trinite.”
The National Education Minister, Joel Jean Pierre, who went to visit the site, says that what has occurred is a “national disaster.” Various precincts of Haitian police and form the Mission of Nations for Stability in Haity (MINUSTAH) were working on the site, as well as teams from the Red Cross, “Doctors Beyond Borders,” and other humanitarian aid groups, to coordinate the rescue efforts and transfer the wounded to hospitals.
Rescue operations are still underway, with the help of French fire-fighters and engineers who came into Port-au-Prince from Martinique, as well as others from the US who have come to help the impoverished nation. The work has been held up due to the fact that the school is located in an area that has a constructional chaos near a cliff, which makes vehicle access impossible.
The causes of the collapse are still unknown, however the Principal and owner of the school have been taken into custody on accusations of having made additions to the building without legal permissions.
The Holy Father Benedict XVI has expressed his deep condolences and his spiritual solidarity and prayer, in response to what has occurred. In a telegram addressed to the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, and sent in his name from Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope expresses his profound closeness to those who have been affected by this tragedy and assures the victims' families of his prayers. The Pope asks that the Lord may welcome these children, and all those who have died, into His presence and that He may console the wounded. Lastly, the Pope encourages the rescue workers and all those who are actively showing their solidarity. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 10/11/2008)
