Magnitude-7.0 earthquake hits Haiti, thousands feared dead

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haitians are piling bodies along the devastated streets of their capital after a powerful earthquake flattened the president’s palace and the main prison, the cathedral, hospitals, schools and thousands of homes.

Untold numbers are still trapped.

President Rene Preval says he believes thousands of people are dead even as other officials give much higher estimates, though they were based on the extent of the destruction rather than firm counts of the dead.

His prime minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, tells CNN: “I believe we are well over 100,000,” while leading senator Youri Latortue tells The Associated Press that 500,000 could be dead.

Both admit they have no way of knowing. The magnitude-7 quake struck Tuesday afternoon.