Haiti hit by 7.2 magnitude earthquake

The impoverished country, where many live in tenuous circumstances, is vulnerable to earthquakes and hurricanes. Picture: AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday, with the epicentre about 78 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said.

People in the capital felt the tremor and many rushed into the streets in fear, although there did not appear to be damage there.