Cardinal injured, priest dead after earthquake in Haiti

Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes and president of Haiti’s Bishops’ Conference, has been injured, while a Catholic priest died early in the morning of Aug. 14 after an 7.2 intensity earthquake shook Haiti.

Speaking to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language news agency, Akim Kikonda, Director for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Haiti, said that Cardinal Langlois “is hurt, but his life is not in danger.” Langlois, 62, was created the first Haitian cardinal by Pope Francis Feb. 22, 2014.

“CRS has spoken with the priestly residence in Les Cayes and we have reports that the house has been severely damaged. Unfortunately, we were informed of three fatalities, one priest and two employees,” Kikonda said.

Kikonda also reported to ACI Prensa that “all of CRS personnel are safe and sound, but unfortunately one of our employees’ wife died and his baby is gravely injured.”

The earthquake happened at 8:30 a.m. local time, affecting all the country, but especially the region of Les Cayes, in the southwestern region of Haiti.

Kikonda also said that the local public hospital has been overwhelmed by the number of emergencies, and is turning away most of the injured.

“We are currently evaluating the extent of the damage… Once we have a full evaluation of the injured, dead and affected, we will proceed to provide emergency services, especially to the poorest and most vulnerable people.”