GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says it stands ready to provide assistance to Haiti, one of its 15-member countries that hit by a number of earthquakes resulting in the deaths of 17 people and injury to more than 300 others.

CARICOM Secretary General Irwin La Rocque in a message to President Jovenel Moise, said that CARICOM “is deeply saddened by the loss of life and the significant destruction of property” in the French-speaking country as a result of the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck on Saturday night.

Since the first quake, Haiti has been rocked by several aftershocks.

La Rocque said that the regional integration grouping was extending condolences to the families who lost their loved ones as well as for a “full and speedy recovery of the injured.

“CARICOM and its institutions stand ready to offer assistance within its capabilities to aid in the recovery process,” La Rocque said.

The Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) in its latest bulletin on the damage caused by the earthquakes, said that the death toll had climbed to 17 deaths with most of the deaths occurring in Port-de-Paix north-west of here and in Gros Morne.

“At least 333 people are injured, most of them in hospitals in the North West, Artibonite and North departments. Hundreds of homes are destroyed or damaged. According to initial assessments, 7,783 families are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in the North West, Artibonite and North departments due to the partial or total destruction of their homes,” it said in the statement.