Fortin Augustin is a preacher in Haiti who built and owns the College La Promesse Evangelique, which collapsed on November 7, 2008, killing at least 90 people. Haitian President Rene Preval reported that the building construction had not been reinforced. Augustin was taken into custody on November 8 and has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.Sydney Morning Herald: Four children found alive in Haiti rubble (November 10, 2008)
College La Promesse Evangelique Construction
According to news reports, the College La Promesse Evangelique was hand-built by Fortin Augustin himself, without the assistance of engineers. The construction was of concrete blocks, and lacked steel reinforcing rods. An earlier collapse of the structure forced several neighbors to move away from the school's vicinity.eFlux: Owner of Collapsed Haitian School, Arrested (November 9, 2008)
French rescue workers reported that the building ruins continue to teeter. On Friday they heard children's voices under the rubble but the rubble crashed down and the voices were silenced.Associated Press: Haitians frustrated by rescue at collapsed school (November 9, 2008)
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Augustin reportedly built the building himself without engineering assistanceeFlux: Owner of Collapsed Haitian School, Arrested (November 9, 2008)
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Groups helping with the rescue effort include Doctors Without Borders and search teams from French Martinique and from Virginia in the U.S.The Age: Rescuers pull four from school rubble (November 10, 2008)
