Exactly nine months after the earthquake that struck Haiti, a panic prevailed yesterday afternoon, Oct. 12, at the Collège Saint Louis de Jacmel located on Barranquilla.

At least a dozen students were injured and others have vanished during the passage of a bulldozer in front of this school. Feeling the ground vibrate, the students immediately thought it could be an aftershock, panicked many of them, who were on the floor of the building jumped from windows, injuring themselves in their fall.

At least a dozen students were quickly transported to hospital by an ambulance of the Red Cross Regional. Some students of the College Saint Louis seriously shocked by this event, interviewed by Haitilibre have expressed their concerns, although the building housing the school, including two floors had been destroyed has been rebuilt. "We are all traumatized since the devastating earthquake that has killed thousands of our countrymen, we can not forget this date of January 12 or the feelings of shock," they said.

Djenne Theodore, director of the Collège Saint Louis de Jacmel who was also in shock said "the authorities of the town of Jacmel should adopt measures to prohibit the movement of heavy vehicles during school hours or not frequent the streets where there are activities in schools".

This panic has paralyzed some other city schools, including the Lycée Pinchinat and Normal School Teacher. Rumors circulating in town about a risk of aftershocks, after checking with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other monitoring centers, no telluric activity has been reported in Jacmel that day. Psychosis earthquake of 12 January is still a major trauma for many Haitians of all ages and the slightest vibration can cause further panic now dramatic.

Jean Marc Marcelin, president of the Association of Educators Jacmel (Association des Éducatrices et Éducateurs de Jacmel AEJ) that participated Sunday, October 10 at a Radio show, hosted by our Journalist Claudy Belizaire in Jacmel, had advocated a civic education campaign schools to train and educate students about the behavior they should have in case of any natural disaster. Chairman of the AEJ sought from the Ministry of National Education, psychosocial support for teachers for the academic year 2010-2011.

HL / Claudy Belizaire