Haiti Earthquake "Strange," Strongest in 200 Years
Although earthquakes on Haiti are not uncommon, experts say, the intensity of yesterday's temblor was unusual from a historical perspective.
HAITI EARTHQUAKE PICTURES
While earthquakes are not uncommon in the Caribbean island country, the recent Haiti earthquake's intensity surprised experts.
"It's quite strange" from a historical perspective, said Julie Detton, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Haiti is part of the island of Hispaniola, which also hosts the Dominican Republic. The last major earthquake to strike Haiti's side of the island was in 1860.
Yesterday's initial earthquake, which struck at about 5 p.m. local time yesterday, spawned dozens of aftershocks, about 15 of which were magnitude 5 or greater.
Whether the earthquake could trigger other major quakes is not known.
"It's not something that we can project is going to happen," Detton said.
"But definitely if you're moving two [plates] in one area, you're building up
