UN headquarters collapses in Haiti quake; fewer than 5 confirmed dead, 100 missing

100 missing after UN headquarters collapse

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. says more than 100 people are missing in the rubble of the collapsed U.N. headquarters building in Haiti, including the mission chief.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said Wednesday about 10 people have been pulled out, many badly injured and “less than five” are confirmed dead.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told French media his country’s ambassador reported that everyone in the U.N. building, including mission chief Hedi Annabi, appeared dead. U.N. officials would say only that Annabi is unaccounted for.

Le Roy told reporters an assessment of Haiti’s main airport in Port au Prince found it is “fully operational” and planes will arrive Wednesday with aid.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for aid. He said the United Nations is releasing $10 million from its emergency funds.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. says more than 100 people are missing in the rubble of the collapsed U.N. headquarters building in Haiti, including the mission chief.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said Wednesday that about 10 people have been pulled out, many badly injured and “less than five” are confirmed dead.

Le Roy told reporters an assessment of the main airport in the capital, Port au Prince, found that it is “fully operational” and planes will be flying in Wednesday with aid.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for massive aid for Haiti and announced that the United Nations is releasing $10 million from its emergency funds.

He said the “catastrophic earthquake” has done major damage to buildings and infrastructure and the death toll “may be in the hundreds or even thousands.”