6.1 magnitude quake hits Haiti

Only eight days after the country’s capital was devastated by an earthquake, a new powerful aftershock hit Haiti on Wednesday, which shook buildings and sent people screaming into the streets.

The magnitude of the quake was 6.1, making it the largest aftershock yet to the apocalyptic January 12 quake that left the capital of Haiti in ruins. Any additional damage or injuries have still not been reported.

The new quake hit at 6:03 a.m. (1103 GMT) about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of the capital of Port-au-Prince and 13.7 miles (22 kilometers) below the surface.

Chaos and cries erupted from the frightened survivors as the earth trembled early morning. The U.S. Geologic Survey said the quake was centered about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Port-au-Prince and was 13.7 miles (22 kilometers) below the surface.

Last week’s magnitude-7 quake killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless, according to the European Union Commission. A massive international aid effort has been launched, but is struggling with overwhelming logistical problems.

Search and rescue teams are still recovering people who are alive or dead bodies from the ruins. Authorities said close to 100 people had been pulled from wrecked buildings by international search-and-rescue teams. Efforts continued, with dozens of teams sifting through Port-au-Prince’s crumbled homes and buildings for signs of life.