FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – More than 1,400 have been reported dead from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Haiti on Saturday, and frantic rescue efforts continue as Tropical Depression Grace approaches the island nation.
In Broward County, several Haitian families were heading to the airport Monday, taking flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port-au-Prince.
People were also flying into South Florida from Haiti. Some said they were still processing what happened and others declined to speak about it.
“I really didn’t know what was going on at first,” said earthquake survivor Claire Felisma. “It’s when I saw the bed moving and the building going back and forth and I heard people crying outside and yelling that they were dying, and that’s when we got out right away.”
One man showed Local 10 News his arm in a cast, injured from falling debris in the earthquake.
“Makes me very sad because I know right now the Haitian situation and now it will become worse and worse,” one man at the airport said. “I think God only can do something for us. Only God.”
Another traveler, Mona, spoke to Local 10 News as she checked in several large bags for her JetBlue flight to Port-au-Prince. She said she is taking supplies to people she knows who were rocked by the quake.
While thankfully she says her family is not among those killed, she felt inclined to help out in any way she could.
“I’m bringing food,” she said. “Some things they can [use to ] survive.”
ALSO SEE: How to help Haiti earthquake victims: List of organizations accepting donations