Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Scientists: Haiti Quake Caused by Previously Unknown Fault VOA News 12 August 2010 People sit in the Corail-Cesselesse camp for earthquake displaced people on outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti (file photo) Photo: AP People sit in the Corail-Cesselesse camp for earthquake displaced people on outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti (file photo) Scientists studying the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year warn that it was caused by a previously unknown fault in the Earth's crust. Purdue University professor Eric Calais presented his team's findings this week at a conference of geophysicists in Brazil.  He said the newly discovered fault could put Haiti at risk for more earthquakes, but that scientists will need to do more research to assess the danger. Earthquakes happen along faults, areas where the massive slabs of rock that form the Earth's outer layer meet or overlap. When the slabs slip or collide, the ground shakes. Scientists originally blamed the Haiti quake on movement along the well-known "Enriquillo" fault. But Calais' team found a previously unknown fault was responsible because of the way in which the ground moved. They say the newly-discovered fault could be connected to a larger system of faults that have never been mapped. Haiti is still struggling to recover from the January 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people, left 1.5 million homeless, and caused $7 billion in damage. .