ALGERIA 2003 - EARTHQUAKE

On 21 May 2003, 17:44 local time, an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit the northern part of Algeria. The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 60 km east of the capital Algiers, near the city of Thenia in the Zemmouri region. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, an estimated 800 people were killed and 6,000 injured. The most affected cities were the city of Bourmedes, Zemmouri, Thenia, Belouizdad, Roubia and Reghaia. The earthquake was described as the worst since 1980.

 

Immediately after the earthquake, Algeria requested assistance through international organizations and foreign embassies in Algeria. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Algeria was also affected by the earthquake (the walls of the building cracked).

 

The Operational and Information Centre of the MoI-DG FRS CR immediately took steps to deploy a USAR team to the affected area. On 23 May 2003, the team was deployed in the town of Bordj-Menaiel, as the first foreign team.

 

PROBLEM:

At the time of deployment, the OSOCC staff had not yet been activated, so the team had nowhere to register. The OSOCC headquarters was later established in the town of Boumerdes. The commander of the Czech USAR team went to Boumerdes to register with the Czech USAR team a total of 3 times during his tenure in the city of Bordj-Menaiel. Unfortunately, apparently due to the chaos, the staff members did not register their team even once. On the day of departure, the team commander at the airport in the established OSOCC center wanted to check out the Czech USAR team, but found out that the OSOCC staff members did not know about the Czech USAR team.

 

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION: 

Departure:

22. 22 May 2003 (9:30 p.m.) from Prague-Kbely
23. May 2003 (3:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m. of Alger time) Alger

Arrival:

27. May 2003 (after midnight of Alger time) Alger
28. May 2003 (7:30 a.m.) Prague- Kbely

Transport:                  AN 26 aircraft of the Czech Army

Meals:              from own supplies.

Outside temperature:   unbearable heat during the day preclusive of work

Localities searched by the Czech USAR team:

–          three-storey building of a supermarket (3 dead, no one alive found)

–          apartment house (1 dead, no one alive found)

–          3rd locality (3 dead, no one alive found)

–          4th locality (1 dead, no one alive found)

Number of extricated persons by the Czech unit: 5 dead (heavy equipment needed for extrication was not available on scene)

Summary

The earthquake killed 2,268 people, injured 10,147 people and left 200,000 people without shelter in the area.