Trần was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on business (ironically, working on improving building standards to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes), and was staying in the Hôtel Montana when it collapsed in a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010. Upon Trần's disappearance, ITF Senior Vice-President and Grand Master Pablo Trajtenberg was named Acting President of the ITF group that Trần had led. Trần's remains were found and his death was confirmed on February 12, 2010.