DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND SCIENCE CHANNEL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE THAT ROCKED HAITI LAST MONTH

Discovery Channel's HAITI'S KILLER QUAKE: WHY IT HAPPENED Premieres Thursday, February 11 at 9PM ET/PT

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 was the strongest to hit the island in over two centuries. Beginning Thursday, February 11, Discovery Channel and Science Channel explore Haiti in the aftermath of the tragic quake, whether it could have been avoided, and what we can learn scientifically from the tragedy.

On Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 9PM ET/PT, Discovery Channel premieres HAITI'S KILLER QUAKE: WHY IT HAPPENED. The special delves deep into the key questions that scientists are racing to answer: Why did the quake happen now? Could it have been predicted? And when and where might the next "big one" strike? Geologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado travels to Haiti to explore the enormous forces that caused this disaster.

Then, on Sunday, February 14 at 9PM ET/PT, Science Channel examines killer quakes like the one in Haiti with PREDICTING MONSTER EARTHQUAKES. The special closely analyzes the biggest force of natural destruction - earthquakes. They're capable of ripping up roads, moving mountains and tearing down towns. Only an atomic bomb or meteor could create so much brutal force and destructive energy over such a widespread area. It's a problem that affects parts of every continent - and billions of dollars, yen and yuan are being poured into researching these hazards. It's estimated that a major earthquake striking Los Angeles - the so-called "big one", expected anytime soon - would cause over $200 billion in property damage. And yet, remarkably, as with the tragedy in Haiti, when earthquakes hit, they invariably take us by surprise.

In aftermath of the Haiti disaster, Discovery Communications has been working with partners at the Ad Council, American Red Cross and Save the Children to air Haiti Relief PSAs across its 13 US networks, and to post banner ads on our 16 websites. In addition, Discovery Communications was proud to participate in the Help for Haiti Telethon, airing the program on Planet Green and Discovery Health in the US and on Discovery Home & Health and People+Arts in Latin America.