NY Dominicans feel Haiti’s Pain

Republished with the permission of New American Media

While two-thirds of Haiti’s capital was being destroyed by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, people felt a tremor throughout the Dominican Republic as well and took to the streets in panic, reports El Diario, which spoke to family members in Manhattan’s Dominican community. Amantina Otero said when he learned that the earthquake was felt throughout the island, he immediately called his family in Santo Domingo, who then told him all was well. Now his concern is for those in Haiti. Joseph Mercedes also called his family and was told that everyone was safe but that the cathedral in Haiti had fallen and there were hundreds dead. Others contacted siblings, who claimed Dominican people were screaming in the streets with fear but then everything calmed down.