by Marion Smith
Pretoria, South Africa. The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in South Africa hosted a solemn commemorative event to honour the memory of the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010.
At exactly 16:53 local time, the moment the disaster unfolded, the gathering observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the lives lost. The 7.0 Mw earthquake, with its epicentre near Léogâne, approximately 25 kilometres west of Port au Prince, claimed the lives of more than 300,000 people and caused widespread destruction that forever altered the course of the nation’s history.
The commemoration served not only as a moment of mourning, but also as a powerful expression of solidarity with the Haitian people. Attendees reflected on Haiti’s remarkable resilience, strength and enduring spirit in the face of immense tragedy. More than a decade later, the memory of those lost remains a call to honour their legacy by standing together in compassion, remembrance and hope for Haiti’s future.
