A major magnitude 7.0 quake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday and prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean (Including The Bahamas), the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
   
The epicenter of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only 16 km from the capital Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth of only 10 km.
   
A major earthquake, of magnitude 7 or higher, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties.
   
"A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the center said. "However, there is the possibility of a local tsunami that  could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km from the earthquake epicenter."
   
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.