SITUATION UPDATE
On 12 January at 16:53h local time (21:53h GMT) an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale (depth 10 km) hit a highly populated area in Ouest Province of Haiti (population 2.2 million), 17km south-west of Port-au-Prince (18.45N, 72.45W). Carrefour and Jacmel have been affected.
On 15 Jan it was reported that the security situation in Port-au-Prince is volatile. Protests in the city over the humanitarian crisis highlight extreme travel risk. All travel to Haiti should be for essential purposes only.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Water supply, electricity and communication lines have been damaged.
- Buildings in the United Nations compound in the capital have been destroyed.
AIRPORT status
- Port-au-Prince Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport (MTPP)
- Haitian airspace is only open to humanitarian aircraft operating to and from Haiti airports. No possibility of any over-flights due to very limited staffing.
- The ground stop that was issued by the Haitian Government at 15:00h GMT has been extended now through 19:00h GMT at the request of the Haitian government. Numerous aircraft are currently holding for a spot on the ramp at the airport, some for over two hours.
- Some flights have been diverted to the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos Islands.
- There is no fuel available at MTPP.
- Once (if) the ground stop is released, aircraft filed for MTPP should plan at least one hour of holding fuel and enough extra fuel to get to a secondary airport after departing MTPP without refuelling.
- The ILS, VOR, DME and runway lights are all reported as in service and working at this time.
- The operators of aircraft going to Haiti are increasing their crew members to assist with off-loading due to equipments being very limited in regard to the demands of aircraft on ground.
- The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is setting up a control centre in Miami to manage the air traffic between the USA and Haiti.
- Dominican Republic - Las Americas International Airport (MDSD)
- Santo Domingo's International airport is also becoming congested.