A powerful earthquake of 7.0 magnitude (USGS) on the Richter Scale affected Haiti on 12 January, at 16.53hrs local time (GMT 21.53hrs). The earthquake happened 17km south-west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti (18.45N, 72.45W).

The IRO had the possibility to deploy with the British team UK ISAR, however the UK ISAR Team departs to early. Because of the large distance, the time of travel and most of all the close distance of the USA, which already provides massive aid, the IRO department of deployment has decided that the IRO will not deploy to Haiti.