U.S. issues Travel Alert for Haiti following devastating earthquake
January 13th, 2010 - 6:16 pm ICT by BNO News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. State Department on Wednesday urged Americans to avoid all travel to Haiti, one day after a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake destroyed large parts of the country’s capital.
“The U.S. Embassy is working to ascertain the extent of the damage and check on the status of U.S. citizens around the island,” the alert read. “There are reports of extensive damage, and communications remain extremely difficult.” The Travel Alert is set to expire on March 13.
The department urged U.S. citizens in Haiti to remain in shelters as aftershocks remain a possibility. “If possible, U.S. citizens in Haiti should contact friends and relatives outside of Haiti to inform them of their welfare,” it said.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has set up a task force at the Embassy which is taking calls as conditions permit. Currently, the Embassy is working to identify U.S. citizens in Haiti who need urgent assistance and to identify sources of emergency help.
U.S. citizens in Haiti are encouraged to contact the Embassy via e-mail, at ACSPaP@state.gov. Americans may also call the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672.
The State Department has also created a task force to monitor the emergency. People in the U.S. or Canada with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task Force at 888-407-4747. If you are outside of the U.S. and Canada, call +1 202-501-4444.
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