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UKFSSART
Deployment to Earthquake in Algeria
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| 22nd May 2003 | |||
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Situation 1. An earthquake measuring between 5.4 (Swiss Seismological Service) and 6.7 (US Geological Survey in Washington) on the Richter Scale hit the northern region, close to the capital Algiers, at 19:44 local time on 21 May 2003. It is the biggest to hit the country since 1980. 2. According to the US Geological Survey in Washington, the epicenter of the quake was situated 45 miles east of Algiers and six miles below ground (36.89 N 3.78E). At least ten aftershocks were felt. 3. According to preliminary information, at least 534 people died and more than 5,000 were injured. Bourmedes (50 kilometers east of Algiers) is the most affected area. A hospital is reported to have collapsed. Telecommunications are cut in the affected areas. Several buildings collapsed in the densely populated Algiers neighborhoods of Bab El-Oued (already strongly affected by the November 2001 floods) and Belcourt. A number of UK SAR Teams will leave the UK this evening, expected to arrive around 0330 hrs in Algiers. The plane will carry 95 team members from UKFSSART, IRC, CANIS, RAPID and BIRD, including 7 dogs altogether. These teams will be accompanied by 2 DFID support staff and 1 UK UNDAC Team member. |
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23rd
May 2003
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USAR Teams from all over Europe are now converging on Algiers. Teams known to be deployed include the French, German/Luxembourg, Belgium, British, Czech and Turkish. Teams on stand-by include the Poles, Koreans and South Africans. A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, comprised of ten members from OCHA, Russian Federation, U.K, Norway, Austria and Sweden has been mobilized. The UK SAR team has left Algiers airport, arrived in Boumerdes region around 1100. The death toll continues to rise - reports indicate over 1000 people are dead with 5 - 6000 injured. The Team have been deployed to the Boumerdes region, 15 miles to the east of Algiers, close to the epicentre of the earthquake, where they will assess which buildings are likely to contain casualties and then focus their search efforts in those areas. |
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24th
May 2003
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The UKFSSART Team currently in Algeria is led by Gerry O'Neil, the Deputy Chief Officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and comprises personnel from Lancashire, Grampian, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Greater Manchester brigades. The team includes search dogs and a small medical contingent and has access to specialist search equipment including search cameras and sensitive listening devices. 09:00 - The UK team is camped with other international teams at the sports stadium at Boumerdes, which is approximately 30Km east of Algiers and 40Km from the epicentre. The team has completed searches of several properties in the village of Boudosaou-el-bahri. These searches were conducted utilising search dogs, listening and viewing devices as well as physical searches. The UKFSSART dogs from Leicestershire worked with Rapid UK, on the properties they were tasked. No live casualties were found. 18:00 - The team have reconnoitered the areas of Thenia and Zemmouri-el-Bahri. There was no sign of life. The incident is now moving into the body recovery phase. 20:40 hours - All UKFSSART members back at camp and not expected to be deployed any further. |
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25th
May 2003
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| Reports from Algiers indicate that over 2,000 people are known to have died following the earthquake that destroyed much of the region. Some sources say that the death toll will exceed 3,000. The search and rescue phase of the relief effort is now felt to be over and many international teams are planning their journeys home. The UK Search and Rescue Teams will return to the UK tomorrow, arriving in Manchester at 11.35am and Stanstead at 13.35hrs. | |||
| 26th May 2003 | |||
| All UKFSSART personnel and dogs have now returned to the UK, safe and well. There was a sad farewell at Manchester Airport as the dogs were taken into quarantine accommodation. The incident is now closed. A debrief will be held, where issues arising can be discussed and futher information will be made available on the web site. | |||
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