School in Haiti collapses
A school in Petionville, Haiti collapsed Friday, killing more than 30 students, and injuring many more.
According to the International Herald Tribune, “Neighbors suspected the building was poorly rebuilt after it partially collapsed eight years ago.� The Charlotte Observer reported the death toll as 75 on Friday as well.
Jinny Germain, a French teacher at College La Promesse said that many people left their homes well before, out of fear that the building would give away. She also revealed that the school’s owner then attempted to buy the families abandoned lots.
Around 500 students attended the College La Promesse, a kindergarten through high school institution; it is not clear whether all 500 students were in the school when it collapsed.
Many people suspected that recent rains were a major cause of the collapse; however, Mayor Claire Rudie Parent of Petionville told the International Herald Tribune that “she suspected a structural defect caused the collapse.� The Tribune reported that the “concrete building’s third story was still under construction� at the time.
Haitian President Rene Preval revealed to the Charlotte Observer that “a previous mayor of Petionville had tried to halt the expansion of La Promesse over safety concerns but the effort faltered when a new mayor came into power in the hillside suburb of the capital.�
She went on to plead for “consistency� between new and old administration. “The next time the mayor speaks and the authorities speak, people will listen,� Preval said.
Yphosiane Vil, a civil protection official told the Tribune that “More children were believed buried in the rubble of the concrete building, and the death toll was likely to go higher.�
I must have read almost 20 stories throughout the weekend as they were updated, death toll numbers increased (88 on Sunday), and new information became available. I have just now learned today (Sunday) that World News has reported that the owner of the school Fortin Augustin has been arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter for the wreckage.