Why are Earthquakes in Haiti So Deadly and Destructive?

For the second time in just over a decade, a massive earthquake has struck Haiti. Why are these earthquakes so devastating in Haiti?

Rocky Planet iconRocky Planet
By Erik Klemetti
Aug 16, 2021 4:15 PMAug 16, 2021 4:17 PM
Damage from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
Damage to the UN Headquarters in Haiti during the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Credit: UN Photo/Logan Abassi

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There is a saying that there is no such thing as a natural disaster. This sounds counterintuitive -- we've seen countless events where earthquakes, eruptions or hurricanes have created immense damage and killed thousands. Yet, the common denominator in these disasters isn't the geologic or meteorologic event, but rather the presence of people where these events strike.

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