Catastrophic loss of life as thousands trapped in rubble

THOUSANDS died in a major earthquake that destroyed the presidential palace, schools, hospitals and hillside shanties in Haiti, the country’s president said yesterday as nations across the world geared up for a big relief operation.

Untold numbers were still trapped under rubble.

A five-story UN headquarters building was also brought down by Tuesday night’s 7.0 magnitude quake, which the US Geological Survey said was the most powerful in Haiti in more than 200 years. Many casualties were feared in the UN building.