Quake Leaves Haitian Americans Desperate for Details

As many details about the devastating earthquake in Haiti remain unknown, Haitian-Americans are desperately trying to obtain news about loved ones in the poor island nation.

Throughout the night Tuesday and into Wednesday, in heavily Haitian-American communities such as Brooklyn, N.Y., and Miami, people made calls and sought information about survivors of the massive earthquake, often to little avail, according to The New York Times.

"What they got instead were news reports that left little hope," the Times reported. "The earthquake, which struck just before 5 p.m. Eastern time with an estimated magnitude of 7.0, leveled homes and buildings throughout the capital of Port-au-Prince and sowed panic and chaos in the streets. The extent of the devastation was unknown, but it was clear to those trying to reach friends and family on the island that the nation's communication infrastructure had also taken a blow."

Officials have warned that casualties are likely to be substantial in this unfolding tragedy.