Among the many good articles the NYTimes has on Haiti is this one: Flawed Building Likely a Big Element – NYTimes.com. One of the likely reasons that there will be so many deaths in Haiti will have to do with the architecture of their buildings. The quality of the buildings are constrained by the cost and availability of materials, and as a result, the buildings are not made to withstand such an earthquake. Not only that, but because they may have been designed to withstand hurricanes by using concrete roofs, that may have also contributed to more deaths.
(Image Newscom/PTSPhoto from TPM)
Smart People I Know 
2009 Earthquake? or 2010
2010! Good catch. The caption under the photograph has been corrected.