State Department sets up toll-free number for information about Americans in Haiti

US sets up toll-free number for Haiti information

WASHINGTON — The State Department has set up a telephone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck the Caribbean nation Tuesday.

The toll-free number to call for information about family members in Haiti is 1-888-407-4747. The State Department advises that some callers may receive a recording because of heavy volume of calls.

Officials say the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Port-au-Prince is still in the early stages of contacting American citizens and notes that communications are difficult within Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.