January 13, 2010 by Tim McDowell.

1810z: Castel Haiti, an office and convention center in Port-au-Prince, is said to have collapsed.

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January 13, 2010 by Tim McDowell.

Status summary as of 1500z: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Haiti at approximately 2153 UTC (1653 local time) on 12 January 2010. The quake was centered approximately 10 mi/16 km from Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch for parts of the Caribbean region shortly after the initial quake, but it was later canceled. The quake was reportedly also felt in the Dominican Republic and Cuba, but there were no reports of damage in those countries. The initial quake has been followed by a series of at least 28 strong aftershocks, all with a magnitude of at least 4.0. Seismologists anticipate that aftershocks will continue.

Preliminary reports indicate that damage in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area is extensive and that most of the city has been destroyed. The quake has also caused massive power and communications outages across the country, hindering rescue efforts. Reports indicate that the communications tower at Toussaint Louverture International Airport (MTPP/PAP) has collapsed, but the rest of the airport was not significantly damaged and the airport remains open. However, the main road leading to the airport is blocked with rubble and debris. American Airlines and Spirit Airlines have both canceled all flights to Haiti until further notice, and Delta Air Lines has halted its only flight to and from the country out of New York’s JFK airport.

There is currently no clear estimate of casualties, but the Red Cross has reported that the quake has affected at least 3 million people. Among the known casualties are several U.N. peacekeepers, including the mission chief. President Rene Preval was reportedly uninjured. Additional information on damage and casualties is likely to emerge over the next 24-48 hours as rescue efforts continue.

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March 26, 2009 by Tim McDowell.

On 25 March 2009 the U.S. Embassy in Kiev issued the following Warden Message: “Recently, private U.S. citizens resident in or visiting Kyiv have reported seven violent criminal assaults and robberies directed against foreign nationals by a gang of street criminals. These reported activities have occurred in and around the areas surrounding O’Brien’s Pub and the Hyatt Hotel in Kyiv.

“After an extensive check, the Regional Security Office of the Embassy has been unable to confirm these incidents; however, crime is a serious problem in Kyiv and as the economic situation worsens, violent criminal incidents — robberies, burglaries, and assaults — are expected to increase. As a reasonable precaution, the Embassy strongly recommends all U.S. citizens exercise an increased level of security awareness and report any criminal incident to the Embassy. …”

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