2003 Boumerdès earthquake

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Algeria 2003 Boumerdès earthquake 2003-05-21 18:44:20 usp000bxpg 6845775 2003 5 21 19:44:21 6.8 Mw 12 km on 36.91 N 3.71 E inline, title Dip-slip Algeria $5 billion 10 0.58 g 3 m on 1 2,266 killed, 10,261 injured Seisme de Boumerdes 2003.jpg The 2003 Boumerdès earthquake occurred on May 21 at 19:44:21 local time 18:44:21 UTC in northern Algeria. The shock had a moment magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The epicentre of the earthquake was located near the town of Thénia in Boumerdès Province, approximately 60 km east of the capital Algiers. The quake was the strongest to hit Algeria in more than twenty years – since 1980, when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake resulted in at least 2,633 deaths. Tectonic setting Northern Algeria is situated at the boundary between the African plate and the Eurasian plate, thus creating a zone of compression. This zone of compression manifests itself by several thrust and faults.Building performance in the Boumerdes, Algeria, Earthquake of May 21, 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20080528121854/http://www.caee.uottawa.ca/Svetlana.pdf 2008-05-28 Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering Due to this location between two tectonic plates, many earthquakes occurred in the region.Quake rescuers race against time CNN The mechanism of the earthquake on May 21 corresponds to a northeast-striking thrust fault named Zemmouri fault which was identified for the first time after this earthquake. According to the United States Geological Survey, The earthquake occurred in the boundary region between the Eurasian plate and the African plate. Along this section of the plate boundary, the African plate is moving northwestward against the Eurasian plate with a velocity of about 6 mm per year. The relative plate motions create a compressional tectonic environment, in which earthquakes occur by thrust-faulting and strike-slip faulting. Analysis of seismic waves generated by this earthquake shows that it occurred as the result of thrust-faulting. Damage and casualties Approximately 2,266 people died, 10,261 injured, and 200,000 left homeless as a result of the earthquake.Zemmouri, Algeria, Mw6.8 Earthquake of May 21, 2003 2004 ASCE, TCLEE Reston, VA 9780784407462 http://www.asce.org/Product.aspx?id=2147486137&productid=5369 https://archive.today/20130112150220/http://www.asce.org/Product.aspx?id=2147486137&productid=5369 dead 2013-01-12 Curtis L. Edwards Reports indicate more than 1,243 buildings were completely or partially destroyed. Infrastructure was predictably damaged in Algiers, Boumerdès, Réghaïa and Thénia; roads in Algeria are generally of high quality, but many city streets and local roads were difficult to traverse because of debris from collapsed buildings. Bridges are constructed similarly to those in the US, with precast steel girders supporting a concrete deck. A few days after the earthquake, three major highway bridges were still closed. The last highway bridge to open was the Hussein Dey Bridge on July 5. The quake generated a localized tsunami, which damaged boats off the coast of the Balearic Islands.Magnitude 6.8 Northern Algeria https://web.archive.org/web/20080511234741/http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2003/eq_030521/ 2008-05-11 United States Geological Survey The eastern side of Algiers was affected most; overall, the Boumerdès Province was the hardest-hit region.Oliveira Roca Xavier 2006 444 According to officials, roughly 400 people were killed in Algiers only. In the Boumerdès Province, several cities were heavily damaged, with Thénia, Zemmouri, and Boumerdès, being the worst affected.Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes 2004 37 Many buildings built in the early twentieth century during the colonial rule suffered heavy damage in the Belcourt, Bab-El-Oued and El-Casbah areas in Algiers Province.Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes 2004 36 thumb|250px|Map of the affected area According to the Algerian Ministry of Housing, in the Algiers Province only approximately 554 schools suffered light damage, while nearly 330 schools received moderate damage and 11 were heavily damaged or completely destroyed.Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes 2004 38 The University of Boumerdès was severely damaged, and many buildings in the area collapsed. Damage was also reported to the University of Science and Technology in Bab Ezzouar, which has the largest university campus in Algeria. A water treatment plant in Boudouaou, which provides more than 12% of the treated water to the Boumerdès and Algiers, suffered light damage to the clarifiers and clear water storage tanks. The water pipeline from the Keddara Dam to the water treatment plant was broken at a concrete junction structure at the dam, as well as at the treatment plant. The main power plant in Cap Djenet suffered minor to moderate damage. A high voltage switch yard located near Réghaïa had heavy damage.Edwards 2004 2 Société Nationale des Transports Ferrovaires, Algeria's state-owned railway company, suffered track damage near the town of Thénia. Some tracks were also blocked by debris of destroyed buildings. Eighteen bridges in the affected region had minor to moderate damage. Cracks developed in some roads and highways. The port of Algiers, which at that time handled approximately 40% of the national cargo traffic, suffered light to moderate damage due to soil liquefaction and settlement caused by the earthquake. Port operations was reportedly reduced by 30% immediately after the quake. The minor ports in Zemmouri and Dellys received little damage. The airport control tower and terminal were moderately damaged.Edwards 2004 3 The earthquake had significant effect on local communication. An 8,000 switch central office in the El Harrach area of Algiers completely destroyed and another 20,000 switch office was heavily damaged. Central offices in Boumerdes, Zemmouri and Tidjelabine were damaged.Edwards 2004 2–3 Submarine telecommunication cables also suffered damage. Two underwater fiber optic cables between Algeria and Spain received heavy damage due to undersea landslide caused by the quake. Relief efforts Many nations sent rescue teams to help in the search for earthquake survivors.Dean 2003 177 International teams of relief workers went to the spot and became involved in rescuing people still trapped under rubble. International relief agencies engaged in supplies like shelter, food and water to the people who became homeless due to the quake.2003-05-25 Search for Algeria earthquake survivors ends http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_2936000/2936340.stm 2024-09-07 Sniffer dogs sent to Algeria to find survivors trapped under rubble.2003-05-23 Sniffer dogs sent to Algeria http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/2931414.stm 2024-09-07 The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement co-ordinated the relief efforts. Medical and rescue teams were dispatched from European countries. The Red Cross of the People's Republic of China donated $50,000.Aid en route to Algeria BBC News Trucks were called into service to remove dead bodies from Algiers and surrounding towns and villages. Army units were deployed to assist the relief effort. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia announced an aid of $7,000 for each victim. The government dispatched several ambulances, police personnel and electrical workers into the affected area. Tents, ambulances and engineering equipment were brought by the army. Water trucks were dispatched to the quake affected villages.Algeria earthquake death tolls reaches nearly 1,600 USA Today Response from other countries France: Jacques Chirac expressed the sympathy and solidarity of the French people and promised all necessary aid. France immediately provided human and material assistance. Transall aircraft of the Air Force took off with rescue specialists, followed by firefighters from Marseille and medical units.Séisme sème la panique et la terreur https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2003/05/23/201759-le-seisme-seme-la-panique-et-la-terreur.html ladepeche.fr François ténèze 7 February 2023 Canada: Canada pledged approximately $150,000 for search and rescue works to find survivors. Egypt: Egypt sent a team of physicians and medicines to Algeria.Earthquake -ridden Algeria receives aid from around the world Germany: Germany sent 25 rescue workers to the affected region. Iceland: Iceland sent ICE-SAR rubble rescue team. Morocco: Morocco sent a medical team along with medicines to Algeria. Pakistan: Pakistan sent relief goods for the earthquake victims. A special flight containing 2,500 blankets, 200 tents and 31 cartons of medicines was dispatched to Algeria.Pakistan s relief goods for Algeria's earthquake victims People's Republic of China: The People's Republic of China dispatched a team of rescue workers from the China International Search and Rescue (CISAR), PRC's main organization for international earthquake rescue work, to Algeria to search for survivors.Nation fulfils its obligations in rescue work People's Daily Poland: Poland sent 27 rescue workers from Gdańsk with expert equipment, maintaining readiness to send further reinforcements,https://www.rmf24.pl/ekonomia/news-polscy-strazacy-wylecieli-do-algierii,nId,159157 Polscy strażacy wylecieli do Algierii RMF 24 23 May 2003 4 September 2022 pl and the Polish Medical Mission sent medical supplies.https://pulsmedycyny.pl/misja-medyczna-z-pomoca-algierii-878084 Misja Medyczna z pomocą Algierii Puls Medycyny 2 June 2003 4 September 2022 pl Russia: Physicians and rescue workers were dispatched from Moscow. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia sent aircraft carrying 102 tons of foodstuffs and tents. South Africa: South Africa sent recovery teams to Algeria. Sweden: Sweden sent sniffer dogs to Algeria. Switzerland: Switzerland sent sniffer dogs to search survivors. A 90-member recovery team was dispatched to the Boumerdès area.Epidemics, Looting Loom as New Threats to Algeria Earthquake Survivors Fox News United Kingdom: United Kingdom sent nearly 100 rescue workers. United States: US President George W. Bush assured Bouteflika of "the support and friendship of the United States". Public anger There was anger among the survivors over the fact that the local authorities did not provide them with temporary shelters. Government officials virtually did not take part in the relief efforts, but Islamic charities tried to provide quick assistance. The inability of the state to effectively respond to the disaster led to widespread criticism.Freedom House 2004 15 The effects of the earthquake became worse because the construction industry in Algeria did not apply rigorous safety standards of earthquake engineering to build earthquake-proof buildingsOxford Business Group 92 and several buildings lacked the architecture to withstand earthquakes. New housing blocks constructed by the government and by individual builders were destroyed by the quake,Evans Phillips 2008 273Elsheshtawy 2004 54 but private building from the French period withstood the earthquake. This was another cause of public anger. Some people claimed that officials saved money by using below-standard material in construction projects. Many angry protesters threw debris when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Minister of State for the Interior and Local Authorities, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, tried to visit some affected regions. A crowd kicked and stoned the car of Bouteflika when he visited Boumerdès shouting "pouvoir assassin" ("murdering power"). Prime Minister Ouyahia expressed the view of possibility of corruption in the construction sector. A commission of inquiry was set up by the government to investigate the faulty construction of several buildings which collapsed in the quake. See also Algeria List of earthquakes in 2003 List of earthquakes in Algeria 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake 2023 Al Haouz earthquake Notes ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009) http://www.isc.ac.uk/iscgem/index.php ISC 2015 International Seismological Centre Version 2.0 Significant Earthquake Database https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/search National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS) National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA 10.7289/V5TD9V7K 1972 Data Set PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog https://earthquake.usgs.gov/static/lfs/data/pager/catalogs/ https://web.archive.org/web/20200313112456/ftp://hazards.cr.usgs.gov/web/data/pager/catalogs/ dead 2020-03-13 September 4, 2009 United States Geological Survey Version 2008_06.1 References Edwards Curtis L. 2004 Zemmouri, Algeria: Mw 6.8 Earthquake Of May 21, 2003 ASCE Publications 978-0-7844-0746-2 Oliveira Carlos Sousa Roca Antoni Xavier Goula 2006 Assessing and Managing Earthquake Risk Springer 978-1-4020-1827-5 2004 Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes OECD Publishing 978-92-64-01669-9 Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes 2004 Dean Lucy The Middle East and North Africa 2004 Europa Publications 50th 978-1-85743-184-1 2003-10-30 registration https://archive.org/details/middleeastnortha50thunse Freedom House 2004 Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa Rowman & Littlefield 978-0-7425-3775-0 Emerging Algeria 2006 Oxford Business Group 978-1-902339-43-6 Oxford Business Group Evans Martin Phillips John 2008 Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed Yale University Press 978-0-300-10881-1 Elsheshtawy Yasser 2004 Planning Middle Eastern cities Routledge 978-0-415-30400-9 External links History of deadly earthquakes – BBC News The Boumerdes (Algeria) Earthquake of May 21, 2003: Preliminary Reconnaissance Using Remotely Sensed Data – Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Algeria hit by earthquake – BBC News 6845775 eq-2003-0245-dza Category:2003 disasters in Algeria Boumerdes Boumerdès earthquake 2003 Category:2003 tsunamis Category:May 2003 in Africa Category:Tsunamis in Algeria Category:2000s in Boumerdès Province Category:Buried rupture earthquakes