Casualties of the 2010 Haiti earthquake include both civilian and government officials , locals and foreigners – however the overwhelming majority of those killed and wounded in the quake were Haitian civilians . A number of public figures died in the earthquake , including government officials , clergy members , musicians , together with foreign civilian and military personnel working with the United Nations . On 15 January , the Red Cross estimated the death toll at between 45,000 and 50,000 , however by 24 January , Communications Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said the death toll was over 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area alone . Haitian president René Préval reported on 27 January that " nearly 170,000 " bodies had been counted
quake
2010 Haiti earthquake
Casualties of the 2010 Haiti earthquake