Grace Divine School collapse

The school building was a two-story concrete structure built on the side of a hill.[1][2] According to one AFP witness, "chunks of the school's walls were scattered on the ground, its concrete roof was sagging, and there were clear cracks in the remaining walls".[3]

No cause was immediately apparent, but poor-quality construction and heavy rains in the preceding days were believed to have been contributing factors.[4][5] The Red Cross reported that some students were jumping and dancing in a musical just prior to collapse, which may have strained the weakened structure.[2]

Around 100 students, ages 5 to 12, attended Grace Divine School. The collapse occurred during a break in classes, when most of the school's students were outside in the yard.[6] At least nine individuals were injured, including two students who were taken to hospital.[5] A preliminary search reported that no one was trapped in the debris and that there were no fatalities.[7]

Compared to the Pétion-Ville disaster, the number and severity of casualties in Port-au-Price were low because of relatively little damage to the buildings and most students were outside of the building during collapse.[2]

After hearing of the collapse parents anxiously gathered at the school, fearing a similar deadly outcome of the collapse of the La Promesse school in Pétion-Ville. Foreign and domestic rescue teams were quick to arrive on scene due to their involvement in the Pétion-Ville collapse.[3]

At one school a mile away from Grace Divine, students believed their own school building was shaking; there was no damage but two children were injured in the panic.[2]

Initial information about the disaster was reported to the international media by Dr. Jean Pierre Guiteau, the executive officer of the Haitian Red Cross.[2]