Tweeting The Earthquake: "Much Screaming Downtown"

Yes, Virginia, Haiti does have Twitter. Global Voices records some of the more haunting:

There have been eyewitness reports from musician and hotelier Richard Morse, who tweets as @RAMHaiti. Morse posted his initial tweet around 6:00pm Haiti time, reporting that:

were ok at the oloffson [the hotel he runs] ..internet is on !! no phones ! hope all are okay..alot of big building in PAP [Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city] are down !

A series of tweets sent an hour later reported:

Just about all the lights are out in Port au Prince.. people still screaming but the noise is dying as darkness sets.

Our guests are sitting out in the driveway.. no serious damage here at the Oloffson but many large buildings nearby have collapsed

people are bringing people by on stretchers

Port au Prince is dark except for a few fires

A huge hospital that was being built across from the Oloffson has collapsed

cars are starting to circulate..I see lights in the distance towards the wharf

Later, Morse re-tweeted @isabelleMORSE, who reported “ much destruction on Grand Rue (Ave Dessalines) Daniel Morel's ok. Police Sta, Cathedral, Downtown teleco, Church St Anne all destroyed“.

Just after 7:30pm Haiti time, Morse wrote that:

Phones are starting to work..got a call from some one who's house fell in, child is hurt but ok. .A few people showing up @ Oloffson..roads are blocked by falling walls..much destruction on Grand Rue. I hear hospital General has collapsed

people are needing medical supplies..food, housing; I don't know water situation;

Then, around 7:45pm:

another aftershock..people are screaming and freaking out down towards the stadium..much singing and praying in large numbers

And at around 8:40pm Haiti time:

another aftershock..a little longer..much screaming downtown..this is going to be a long night