Before and after Haiti's earthquake (photos)

Google has updated Google Earth showing before and after images of the devastation caused by the earthquake on Tuesday.

CNET Reviews staff

Jan. 14, 2010 8:34 p.m. PT

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Before

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday occurred along the strike-slip fault line that separates the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, just 10 miles southwest of the capital city, Port-Au-Prince.

The quake, the largest in the region in more than 200 years, has been devastating, and throughout Port-Au-Prince buildings have collapsed, leaving people trapped and streets blocked with the ruins of fallen buildings.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

After

Here is the same area as seen after the earthquake.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Before

This image from Google shows Champs de Mars plaza on an average day in 2008 before the devastating quake struck.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

After

The normally calm Champs de Mars plaza in front of the the Presidential Palace has, like other public spaces throughout the city, become a place to gather and to seek refuge from the destruction caused by the earthquake.

A neighborhood in Port-Au-Prince, before.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

A neighborhood in Port-Au-Prince, before.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Poorly maintained

According to the Encyclopedia of Nations, "Haiti's infrastructure is primitive and poorly maintained, the result of decades of under-investment and environmental damage."

The poor infrastructure accelerated the damage caused by the quake, inflicting an unusually high toll for a quake with magnitude of 7.0.

Here, the same area is seen after the quake.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Before

A building near the city's center before the quake.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Destruction

The same building after Tuesday's earthquake.

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Google/DigitalGlobe

Stade Sylvio Cator, after

The 30,000-person multipurpose stadium Stade Sylvio Cator, named for Haitian Olympic medalist long jumper Sylvio Cator, as seen before the quake in 2008.