“We feel useless here.” Montreal Haitians react to Haiti earthquake-Montreal

A catastrophic earthquake in Haiti is hitting the neighborhood of many Montrealers’ homes.

A strong earthquake occurred about 90 minutes outside the country’s capital, killing more than 200 people and missing hundreds.

This country is still recovering from the strong earthquake 11 years ago. Now when people comb through the ruins and want to know what will happen next, the Haitian Montrealers are full of worry and helplessness.

“It’s incredible for us again,” said Marjorie Villefranche, director of Maison D’Haiti, a Haitian community center that serves the tens of thousands of Haitian expatriates living in the city.

At around 8:30 in the morning, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred in the southern part of the country. Many buildings were razed to the ground, and people fled their homes for fear that they might collapse.

read more: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides help for the deadly Haiti earthquake

“We know that the hospital is overcrowded and there is no help,” said Villefranche, who had been in contact with people in the area.

She said the areas most severely affected by the earthquake in Haiti are quite remote.

“This is a very isolated area and there is no road to it, so how will the help get there? By plane? By boat? We don’t know,” she said.

Frantz Benjamin is a member of the National Assembly of the Liberal Party of Quebec and was born in Haiti. He said that when he first heard about the earthquake, he felt very painful.

“This is another living nightmare,” he said.

Benjamin said that he has been receiving letters from Montrealers who were unable to contact relatives who lived near the earthquake.

“It is certainly a pressure for them,” he said.

Jean Numa Goudou, who runs a Haitian newspaper in Montreal, said that dozens of people have contacted him to learn more about what happened in Haiti.

“Everyone wants to know more,” he said.

read more: At least 227 people died in Haiti’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake

Gudu said that his sources in Haiti told him that a hotel and many other buildings had completely collapsed. He said communication with the area had become extremely difficult, and speculated that the communication tower had been destroyed by the earthquake.

“We will need the unity and help of the entire Canadian society,” Benjamin said.

He said he is planning a meeting with Haitian leaders in Montreal to discuss what can be done to help.

Premier Francois Legault said on Twitter that he was with the people of Haiti and Quebec was with them. Mayor Valérie Plante said that her heart is with the Haitian communities in Haiti and Montreal. She said the city will help fund relief efforts.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada will help Haiti.

“We feel useless here. You know, what can we do here?” Villefranche said.

For the time being, Montreal Haitians can only hope and pray, because many expect the news will only get worse in the coming days.