THE confirmed death toll from Haiti’s devastating earthquake has topped 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area alone, the communications minister said yesterday, with many more thousands dead around the country or still buried under the rubble.

Haiti’s government has declared the search for survivors of the country’s devastating earthquake over, the United Nations said today.

A frightening new aftershock in Haiti forced more earthquake survivors on to the capital’s streets and sent others fleeing to the countryside, where aid was only beginning to reach wrecked towns.

A POWERFUL new earthquake shook Haiti yesterday jolting celebrations for miracle survivors ranging from a three-week-old baby to an elderly woman who were hauled out after seven days under the rubble.

The death toll from Tropical storm Noel rose to 81 today as it headed for the Bahamas amid fears it may reach hurricane force.

Tropical Storm Noel’s centre spun slowly across Cuba as the system’s outer bands dumped heavy rains on island of Hispaniola, prompting thousands to flee their homes to escape rushing floodwaters and mudslides.

At least 100 people were missing in Haiti’s south-western peninsula following floods, mudslides and the collapse of a bridge triggered by Hurricane Dennis, a UN official said today.

AMERICAN and Canadian troops yesterday rushed to a town left completely submerged by flooding and where health officials feared 1,000 people could be dead in that town alone.

Haitians turned to US-led troops and international agencies for help as the death toll climbed to about 900 following floods that ravaged Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Hundreds more were missing and presumed dead.