The death toll from a powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Haiti climbed sharply on Sunday, with at least 724 dead and a minimum of 2,800 injured.
The updated figures from Haiti’s Office of Civil Protection follow a previous count of 304 dead. The office’s director, Jerry Chandler, said rescuers were continuing to search for survivors under the rubble.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he was rushing aid to damaged towns and hospitals overwhelmed by patients.
The earthquake on Saturday struck eight kilometres from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes, about 150km west of the capital Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 10km, the US Geological Survey said.
That made it bigger and shallower than the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010, killing tens of thousands of people, flattening buildings and leaving many homeless.
Rescue efforts were impeded by a landslide that blocked a major connecting road and criminal gangs that took advantage of the chaos, Haiti’s civil protection agency said.
Videos posted on social media showed collapsed buildings near the epicentre and people running into the streets.
Haiti's former prime minister Laurent Lamothe tweeted a video that showed damage caused by the earthquake.
Naomi Verneus, 34, a resident of Port-au-Prince, said she was jolted awake by the earthquake and that her bed shook.
“I woke up and didn’t have time to put my shoes on,” Ms Verneus said.
"We lived the 2010 earthquake and all I could do was run.
"I later remembered my two kids and mother were still inside [the house]. My neighbour went in and told them to get out. We ran to the street."
Aftershocks are likely to continue for weeks or months, with the largest so far registering magnitude 5.2. Adding further jeopardy, the National Hurricane Centre has forecast that Tropical Storm Grace will reach Haiti late on Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Mr Henry declared a one-month state of emergency for the whole country and said he would not ask for international help until the extent of the damage was known.
Some towns were almost razed and the government had sent people to the coastal town of Les Cayes to help plan and co-ordinate the response, he said.
“The most important thing is to recover as many survivors as possible under the rubble,” he said.
“We have learnt that the local hospitals, in particular that of Les Cayes, are overwhelmed with wounded, fractured people.”
He may not have asked for international help immediately, but there have been offers of help from the global community.
US President Joe Biden ordered an immediate response and named USAID administrator Samantha Power as the senior official co-ordinating the effort to help.
USAID will help to assess damage and assist in rebuilding, Mr Biden said.
He said the US was a “close and enduring friend to the people of Haiti".
Argentina and Chile said they were also preparing to send humanitarian aid.
″Once again, Haiti has been hit by adversity,″ Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said.
I felt it, man. It woke me up. My roof kind of made some noise
Danny Bailey,
Kingston resident, Jamaica
Daniel Ross, a resident in the eastern Cuban city of Guantanamo, said his home stood firm but the furniture shook.
"Everyone is really afraid. It's been years since such a big earthquake," said Mr Ross.
Cuban authorities said there had not yet been reports of material damage, deaths or injuries.
In Jamaica, residents also felt the earthquake.
"I felt it, man. It woke me up. My roof kind of made some noise," said Danny Bailey, 49, in Kingston.
Impoverished Haiti is vulnerable to earthquakes and hurricanes. It was struck by a magnitude-5.9 earthquake in 2018 that killed more than a dozen people, and a larger magnitude-7.1 earthquake that damaged much of the capital in 2010 and killed an estimated 300,000 people.
Its latest earthquake came about a month after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, sending the country into political chaos.
His widow, Martine Moise, posted a message on Twitter calling for Haitians to put their "shoulders together to bring solidarity".
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
