Violation of Building Codes Responsible for Most of Algeria’s Quake Damage

ALGIERS, 23 May 2003 — Non-compliance of building regulations was to blame for the severe extent of the damage in the earthquake that hit Algeria on Wednesday, according to experts. “Earthquakes are not forseeable,” said a spokesman for the earthquake observatory in Strasbourg. “The only provision that one can make is strong building regulations and control of these rules.”

Experts say earthquakes in North Africa are increasing because of the continental shift. The North African and Euro-Asian continental plates meet in the Mediterranean.

The epicenter of the last great earthquake in Algeria lay just 200 km from Wednesday’s, in Al-Asnan southwest of Algiers. That disaster, in October 1980, killed up to 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, work continued feverishly to save lives in the quake-hit north yesterday as the death toll soared to over 1,000 people after the worst earthquake in 20 years.

Amid fears of a steep rise in the death toll, and with the number of injured reckoned at more than 6,700, the wreckage of buildings clearly held further casualties — and hoped-for miracles of survival. The area around the capital Algiers and the eastern town of Boumerdes were worst hit by the quake, which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale.

“All around me everything has collapsed. Everyone was so scared,” said one witness. The tremors struck at 7.45 p.m. Wednesday causing panicked residents to abandon evening meals — some people jumping from windows, most scattering out onto the streets.

“Buildings shook and crumbled just like a house of cards,” said one local resident. “Everyone ran out of their houses, everywhere was screams, blood and sirens.”

Strong after-tremors continued throughout the night. Many slept outside in parks and stadiums, afraid that more buildings would topple. The first dead were collected in front of hospitals and covered with sheets as volunteers were mobilized throughout the night in the desperate search for survivors.

Entire families were presumed buried beneath the rubble of their homes. Whole streets were destroyed. Television reports showed people with bleeding hands digging for those buried alive.

“Screams were coming from the wreckage,” said one helper. “Everywhere there were people who couldn’t free themselves.”

The rescue teams are overstretched as the number of casualties rises. “It is a national catastrophe,” said Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia — something no one could ever be prepared for, he told television reporters during a visit to a destroyed area of Algiers. He praised the extraordinary solidarity of the Algerian people. “Everyone is battling to get at survivors — helpers, rescuers, fire officers and the military.”