A desperate rescue effort is continuing at the site of a school building in Haiti that collapsed with several hundred children inside.
A desperate rescue effort is continuing at the site of a school building in Haiti that collapsed with several hundred children inside.
At least 50 people are now known to have died and more than 120 were injured when the three-storey building in Port-au-Prince caved in.
At least 50 people are now known to have died and more than 120 were injured when the three-storey building in Port-au-Prince caved in.
"Numerous" children are still trapped alive in the rubble, officials say.
"Numerous" children are still trapped alive in the rubble, officials say.
UN and charity workers are at the scene and the US has said it is sending a team of search and rescue experts.
UN and charity workers are at the scene and the US has said it is sending a team of search and rescue experts.
This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved Henrietta Fore, USAID
This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved Henrietta Fore, USAID
Hundreds of rescuers have been working through the night to free people from the wreckage of La Promesse College, a church-run school in the suburb of Petionville.
Hundreds of rescuers have been working through the night to free people from the wreckage of La Promesse College, a church-run school in the suburb of Petionville.
Some have been digging through the rubble with their bare hands.
Some have been digging through the rubble with their bare hands.
The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school and it is thought there were between 200 and 700 children inside the building when the first floor caved in.
The site contains a kindergarten as well as a primary and secondary school and it is thought there were between 200 and 700 children inside the building when the first floor caved in.
The US has said it is sending a team of experts, rescue dogs and specialist equipment to Haiti and was working alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance.
The US has said it is sending a team of experts, rescue dogs and specialist equipment to Haiti and was working alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance.
"This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved," said USAID administrator Henrietta Fore.
"This is a tragic situation, especially since children are involved," said USAID administrator Henrietta Fore.
Neighbouring Dominican Republic has promised to send two helicopters to help the rescue effort.
Neighbouring Dominican Republic has promised to send two helicopters to help the rescue effort.
'Only son'
'Only son'
Nadia Lochard, of the civil protection bureau, said it could confirm 50 teachers and children had died and dozens were injured.
Nadia Lochard, of the civil protection bureau, said it could confirm 50 teachers and children had died and dozens were injured.
I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine Nicholas, Haitian parent
I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine Nicholas, Haitian parent
She said "numerous" children were trapped in the rubble.
She said "numerous" children were trapped in the rubble.
"We have signs that they are still alive and we are organising help to try to save them," said Ms Lochard.
"We have signs that they are still alive and we are organising help to try to save them," said Ms Lochard.
Peacekeepers from MINUSTAH, the UN mission in Haiti, 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.
Peacekeepers from MINUSTAH, the UN mission in Haiti, 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.
More than 120 people were injured in the disaster
More than 120 people were injured in the disaster
Relatives gathered around the school, crying and screaming and searching for their children.
Relatives gathered around the school, crying and screaming and searching for their children.
"I have four kids in this school and I have not found any of them," said one woman.
"I have four kids in this school and I have not found any of them," said one woman.
One man, Nicholas, said he heard a crash and thought it could be the school.
One man, Nicholas, said he heard a crash and thought it could be the school.
"When I got there I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine," he said.
"When I got there I saw all the kids getting pulled out. But I didn't see mine," he said.
Josiane Dandin said her 15-year-old son had been killed. "He's my only son, I don't know what I'm going to do," she said.
Josiane Dandin said her 15-year-old son had been killed. "He's my only son, I don't know what I'm going to do," she said.
Local mayor Lydie Parents appealed for more official help in the operation.
Local mayor Lydie Parents appealed for more official help in the operation.
"We're trying hard, but we need everyone to come out and help us. We need more people from the mayor's office, from MINUSTAH, from the police, to come out and give us a hand," she said.
"We're trying hard, but we need everyone to come out and help us. We need more people from the mayor's office, from MINUSTAH, from the police, to come out and give us a hand," she said.
Investigation
Investigation
There has been no official comment on the cause of the collapse, but the BBC's Andy Gallacher says residents in the area suspect the school was poorly rebuilt after it partially collapsed several years ago.
There has been no official comment on the cause of the collapse, but the BBC's Andy Gallacher says residents in the area suspect the school was poorly rebuilt after it partially collapsed several years ago.
Anxious parents gathered at the site of the collapse
Anxious parents gathered at the site of the collapse
Reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction.
Reports say that the upper floor of the school was still under construction.
A French teacher at the school, Jimmy Germain, said people living downhill from the school had abandoned their land, fearing the building could collapse.
A French teacher at the school, Jimmy Germain, said people living downhill from the school had abandoned their land, fearing the building could collapse.
Associated Press quoted police as saying that the preacher who ran the school could face criminal charges.
Associated Press quoted police as saying that the preacher who ran the school could face criminal charges.
Haitian President Rene Preval visited the site to comfort relatives and oversee rescue efforts, while officials said an investigation would be launched.
Haitian President Rene Preval visited the site to comfort relatives and oversee rescue efforts.
He said: "What's important to us now, beside all the sorrow and sadness we feel for the families, is to bring help to those who are still under the rubble and see if we can get them out."
Meanwhile, officials said an investigation would be launched.
"We are going to ask the minister of education to make an inspection of all the schools built in the same way," Senator Yvon Bissereth told AFP.
"We are going to ask the minister of education to make an inspection of all the schools built in the same way," Senator Yvon Bissereth told AFP.
He appealed for heavy search and rescue equipment to be sent to the island.
He appealed for heavy search and rescue equipment to be sent to the island.
Correspondents say Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere where mudslides and poor construction are commonplace.
Correspondents say Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere where mudslides and poor construction are commonplace.
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