A school has collapsed in a suburb of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, killing at least 10 people and trapping an unknown number in rubble.
A school has collapsed in a suburb of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, killing at least 30 people and trapping an unknown number under the rubble.
Hundreds of rescuers are working to free people from the wreckage of the school in Petionville, where some 700 children are educated.
Hundreds of rescuers are working to free people from the wreckage of the school in Petionville, where some 700 children are educated.
At least 20 people have been brought to hospital, some seriously injured.
At least 25 people have been brought to hospital, some seriously injured.
Relatives of pupils missing inside the three-storey building were crying and screaming outside.
Relatives of pupils missing inside the three-storey building were crying and screaming outside.
The school, La Promesse College, is located in Petionville, described by The Associated Press as "a relatively affluent suburb" of the capital.
The school, La Promesse College, is located in Petionville, described by The Associated Press as "a relatively affluent suburb" of the capital.
The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school.
The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school.
While there was no official comment on the possible cause of the collapse, reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction.
While there was no official comment on the possible cause of the collapse, reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction.
'Like an earthquake'
'Like an earthquake'
As rescuers clawed at the rubble with tools or their bare hands, Matt Marek, head of programmes for the American Red Cross in Haiti, said he thought the death toll would go much higher.
As rescuers clawed at the rubble with tools or their bare hands, Matt Marek, head of programmes for the American Red Cross in Haiti, said he thought the death toll would go much higher.
Rescuers could be seen standing on the shattered concrete
Rescuers could be seen standing on the shattered concrete
"This is going to be an all-day affair," he said.
"This is going to be an all-day affair," he said.
United Nations peacekeepers and members of the Haitian Red Cross were at the scene, trying to create an access route through the crowds so that UN military engineers could approach.
United Nations peacekeepers and members of the Haitian Red Cross were at the scene, trying to create an access route through the crowds so that UN military engineers could approach.
"It's like an earthquake," said Brazilian Maj Gen Carlos dos Santos Cruz, commander for UN troops in Haiti.
"It's like an earthquake," said Brazilian Maj Gen Carlos dos Santos Cruz, commander for UN troops in Haiti.
"You have a lot of people under the debris. We don't know how many exactly but there are a lot of people there because they were attending school."
"You have a lot of people under the debris. We don't know how many exactly but there are a lot of people there because they were attending school."
The commander had had to park 1km (about half a mile) away and walk to the wrecked school because he could not get through the crowd in his vehicle.
The commander had had to park 1km (about half a mile) away and walk to the wrecked school because he could not get through the crowd in his vehicle.
A Haitian Red Cross worker, Michaele Gedeon, described a scene of horror for CNN television:
A Haitian Red Cross worker, Michaele Gedeon, described a scene of horror for CNN television:
"The whole school collapsed on the kids, and you know on the phone you can hear so many, so many children, you know, crying, crying. And saying, 'This one is dead, that one is dead'.
"The whole school collapsed on the kids, and you know on the phone you can hear so many, so many children, you know, crying, crying. And saying, 'This one is dead, that one is dead'.
"It's a school building that collapsed on the children. They were in their classrooms."
"It's a school building that collapsed on the children. They were in their classrooms."
A mother who rushed to the school in fear of her child's safety said the disaster had struck at 1000 local time (1500 GMT).
A mother who rushed to the school in fear of her child's safety said the disaster had struck at 1000 local time (1500 GMT).
The building's first floor collapsed and "dragged down the rest of the building as the pupils were in class", she told AFP news agency.
The building's first floor collapsed and "dragged down the rest of the building as the pupils were in class", she told AFP news agency.
'Packed with children'
'Packed with children'
Wendell Theodore, a correspondent for Haiti's Radio Metropole, reports that the second floor of the school was still under construction when it fell in.
Wendell Theodore, a correspondent for Haiti's Radio Metropole, reports that the second floor of the school was still under construction when it fell in.
"There are two floors that were packed with children," he told French radio station France Inter.
"There are two floors that were packed with children," he told French radio station France Inter.
"The third [second, in English terms] floor was still under construction, construction that wasn't complete of course. Several people agree that this could be behind today's accident."
"The third [second, in English terms] floor was still under construction, construction that wasn't complete of course. Several people agree that this could be behind today's accident."
The Mayor of Petionville, Claire Rudie Parent, said she suspected a "structural defect" had caused the second floor to collapse on to the first.
The Mayor of Petionville, Claire Rudie Parent, said she suspected a "structural defect" had caused the second floor to collapse on to the first.
Speaking to AP, she added that she doubted the recent wet weather had contributed to the collapse.
Speaking to AP, she added that she doubted the recent wet weather had contributed to the collapse.
Are you in Petionville? Have you been affected by the incident? Send you comment using the form below:
Are you in Petionville? Have you been affected by the incident? Send you comment using the form below:
