On October 6, 2018, at approximately 8:11 p.m, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 19 kilometers northwest of Port-de-Paix, Haiti.

[5] The earthquake caused part of a school to collapse in Gros-Morne,[6] damaged the façade of the Paroisse St. Michel A De Plaisance church in Plaisance,[7] caused a cultural center to collapse in Gros-Morne,[8] damaged a holding cell at the Police Nationale d'Haiti Commissariat de Port-de-Paix in Port-de-Paix,[9] allowing several detainees to escape,[8] caused an auditorium to collapse in Gros-Morne,[4] damaged several classrooms at San Gabriel National School in Gros-Morne,[6] and destroyed houses in the communes of Chansolme,[citation needed] Gros-Morne,[10] Plaisance,[7] and Port-de-Paix as well as on the island of Tortuga.

[11] President Jovenel Moïse instructed residents to stay calm and stated that authorities would be responding to those who need help.

[12] Prime Minister Jean-Henry Céant said that a cabinet had been created to help organize the emergency response.

[13] The day after the earthquake, President Moïse visited Port-de-Paix de oversee the recovery efforts.