2003 Boumerdès earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Boumerdès earthquake was a magnitude 6.8 Mw
earthquake
that occurred on May 21, 2003 in northern Algeria
. The epicentre of the earthquake was located in 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 7.3 earthquake resulted in 3,500 deaths.
and the Eurasian Plate
, thus creating a zone of compression
. This zone of compression manifests itself by several thrust
and faults. Due to this location between two tectonic plates, many earthquakes occurred in the region. 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
,
, Réghaïa
and Thénia. The quake generated a localized tsunami
, which damaged boats off the coast of the Balearic Islands
. The eastern side of Algiers was affected most; overall, the Boumerdès Province
was the hardest-hit region. 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. Many buildings built in the early twentieth century during the colonial rule
suffered heavy damage in the Belcourt, Bab-El-Qued and El-Casbah areas in Algiers Province.
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. 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.
Societé 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
rubble rescue team.: Morocco sent a medical team along with medicines to Algeria.: 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.: 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.: Physicians and rescue workers were dispatched from Moscow
.: Saudi Arabia sent aircraft carrying 102 tons of foodstuffs and tents.: South Africa sent recovery teams to Algeria.: Sweden sent sniffer dogs to Algeria.: Switzerland sent sniffer dogs to search survivors. A 90-member recovery team was dispatched to the Boumerdès area.: United Kingdom sent nearly 100 rescue workers.: US President
George W. Bush
assured Bouteflika of "the support and friendship of the United States".
to build earthquake-proof buildings 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, 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". 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.
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
that occurred on May 21, 2003 in northern Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. The epicentre of the earthquake was located in the town of Thénia
Thénia
Thénia , with around 40,000 inhabitants, is the chief town in the daïra of the same name, in the wilaya of Boumerdès, in Kabylie in northern Algeria...
in Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès is a province of northern Algeria, between Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou, with its capital at the coastal city of Boumerdès just east of Algiers.-Administrative divisions:...
, approximately 60 km east of the capital Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
. The quake was the strongest to hit Algeria in more than twenty years since 1980, when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake resulted in 3,500 deaths.
Tectonics
The president of Algeria - Abdelhakim Belarbi explained the tectonics of Algeria. The northern Algeria is situated at the boundary between the African PlateAfrican Plate
The African Plate is a tectonic plate which includes the continent of Africa, as well as oceanic crust which lies between the continent and various surrounding ocean ridges.-Boundaries:...
and the Eurasian Plate
Eurasian Plate
The Eurasian Plate is a tectonic plate which includes most of the continent of Eurasia , with the notable exceptions of the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian subcontinent, and the area east of the Chersky Range in East Siberia...
, thus creating a zone of compression
Compression (geology)
In geology the term compression refers to a set of stresses directed toward the center of a rock mass. Compressive strength refers to the maximum compressive stress that can be applied to a material before failure occurs. When the maximum compressive stress is in a horizontal orientation, thrust...
. This zone of compression manifests itself by several thrust
Thrust
Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton's second and third laws. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction on that system....
and faults. Due to this location between two tectonic plates, many earthquakes occurred in the region. 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
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
,
Damages and casualties
Approximately 2,266 people were killed and 10,261 injured as a result of the earthquake. Reports indicate more than 1,243 buildings were completely or partially destroyed, and nearly 150,000 people became homeless. Infrastructure was damaged in Algiers, BoumerdèsBoumerdès
Boumerdès is the capital city of Boumerdès Province, Algeria. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea. It had a population of 28,500 in 1998 and 15,000 in 1987....
, Réghaïa
Réghaïa
Réghaïa is a municipality in Algiers province, Algeria. It is located in Rouïba district and is the most populated municipality of the district.-Geography:...
and Thénia. The quake generated a localized tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
, which damaged boats off the coast of the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
. The eastern side of Algiers was affected most; overall, the Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès is a province of northern Algeria, between Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou, with its capital at the coastal city of Boumerdès just east of Algiers.-Administrative divisions:...
was the hardest-hit region. 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. Many buildings built in the early twentieth century during the colonial rule
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
suffered heavy damage in the Belcourt, Bab-El-Qued and El-Casbah areas in Algiers Province.
Bab Ezzouar
Bab Ezzouar is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria.In August 2009, there was a clash between local residents and Chinese merchants in this suburb, sparked by a confrontation between a migrant and a shop owner. About 100 people in total were involved. A Chinese diplomat said that it...
, which has the largest university campus in Algeria.
A water treatment plant in Boudouaou
Boudouaou
Boudouaou, during French colonialism known as L'Alma is a town in the western part of Boumerdès, Algeria. It is a coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea and is located at an altitude of 3 feet...
, which provides more than 12% of the treated water to the Boumerdès
Boumerdès
Boumerdès is the capital city of Boumerdès Province, Algeria. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea. It had a population of 28,500 in 1998 and 15,000 in 1987....
and Algiers, suffered light damage to the clarifiers and clear water storage tanks. The water pipeline from the Keddara Dam
Keddara Dam
The Keddara Dam, or Barrage Keddara, is an embankment dam northwest of Keddara on the Boudouaou River in Boumerdès Province, Algeria. Constructed between 1982 and 1987, the primary purpose of the dam is water supply for irrigation and municipal use in Algiers which is located to the west...
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.
Societé Nationale des Transports Ferrovaires
SNTF
National company for rail transport is Algeria's national railway operator. The SNTF, a state-owned company, currently has a monopoly over Algeria's network of , even though it is currently exploiting only...
, 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
Soil liquefaction
Soil liquefaction describes a phenomenon whereby a saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, usually earthquake shaking or other sudden change in stress condition, causing it to behave like a liquid....
and settlement
Settlement (structural)
Settlement in a structure refers to the distortion or disruption of parts of a building due to either; unequal compression of its foundations, shrinkage such as that which occurs in timber framed buildings as the frame adjusts its moisture content, or by undue loads being applied to the building...
caused by the earthquake. Port operations was reportedly reduced by 30% immediately after the quake. The minor ports in Zemmouri and Dellys
Dellys
Dellys is a small coastal town in northern Algeria, almost due north of Tizi-Ouzou and just east of the river Sebaou. It is notable for an Ottoman-era casbah, two colonial-era lighthouses , and some beaches; the principal activities of the area are fishing and farming. In Roman times, it was...
received little damage. The airport control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
and terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
were moderately damaged.
The earthquake had significant effect on local communication. An 8,000 switch central office in the El Harrach
El Harrach
El Harrach is a suburb of the Algerian capital Algiers....
area of Algiers completely destroyed and another 20,000 switch office was heavily damaged. Central offices in Boumerdes
Boumerdès
Boumerdès is the capital city of Boumerdès Province, Algeria. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea. It had a population of 28,500 in 1998 and 15,000 in 1987....
, Zemmouri and Tidjelabine were damaged. Submarine telecommunication cables also suffered damage. Two underwater fiber optic cables between Algeria and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
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. 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. Sniffer dogs sent to Algeria to find survivors trapped under rubble. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
co-ordinated the relief efforts. Medical and rescue teams were dispatched from European countries. The Red Cross of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
donated $50,000. 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
Prime Minister of Algeria
The Prime Minister is the head of government of Algeria.The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Algeria, along with other ministers and members of the government that the new Prime Minister recommends. The People's National Assembly must approve the legislative program of the new...
Ahmed Ouyahia
Ahmed Ouyahia
Ahmed Ouyahia is an Algerian politician who has been Prime Minister of Algeria since June 2008. He was previously Prime Minister from 1995 to 1998 and from 2003 to 2006. A career diplomat, he also served as Minister of Justice, and was one of the founders and a president of the RND party...
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.
Response from other countries
: Canada pledged approximately $150,000 for search and rescue works to find survivors.: Egypt sent a team of physicians and medicines to Algeria.: Germany sent 25 rescue workers to the affected region.: Iceland sent ICE-SARICE-SAR
ICE-SAR is a special unit within the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue. It is one of less than 15 teams worldwide that has received IEC Classification from INSARAG under the United Nations umbrella....
rubble rescue team.: Morocco sent a medical team along with medicines to Algeria.: 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.: 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.: Physicians and rescue workers were dispatched from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.: Saudi Arabia sent aircraft carrying 102 tons of foodstuffs and tents.: South Africa sent recovery teams to Algeria.: Sweden sent sniffer dogs to Algeria.: Switzerland sent sniffer dogs to search survivors. A 90-member recovery team was dispatched to the Boumerdès area.: United Kingdom sent nearly 100 rescue workers.: US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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. The effects of the earthquake became worse because the construction industry in Algeria did not apply rigorous safety standards of earthquake engineeringEarthquake engineering
Earthquake engineering is the scientific field concerned with protecting society, the natural and the man-made environment from earthquakes by limiting the seismic risk to socio-economically acceptable levels...
to build earthquake-proof buildings 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, 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
President of Algeria
The President of Algeria is the head of state and chief executive of Algeria, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Algerian armed forces.-History of the office:...
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
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". 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
- List of earthquakes
- List of earthquakes in Algeria
- 2004 Morocco earthquake2004 Morocco earthquakeThe 2004 Morocco earthquake, at a magnitude 6.4Mw, occurred on 24 February 2004 near the coast of northern Morocco.At least 628 people were killed, 926 injured, 2,539 homes destroyed and more than 15,000 people homeless in the Al Hoceima-Imzourene-Beni Abdallah area, Morocco. Maximum intensity IX...