The Obama administration on Wednesday issued a two-month-long travel alert, urging US citizens to avoid traveling to Haiti after the country was struck by a strong earthquake.

"The Department of State alerts US citizens to the situation in Haiti and urges them to avoid travel to Haiti in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12," said the alert, which expires on March 13, 2010.

"There are reports of extensive damage, and communications remain extremely difficult. Additional aftershocks remain a possibility," said the alert.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2010)