Germany and France on Thursday sent emergency teams to Algeria after a powerful earthquake killed at least 540 people.
The quake, estimated at up to 6,0 points on the open-ended Richter scale, caused panic and left a trail of destruction in the capital Algiers and several towns to the east when it struck at 7.44pm on Wednesday. At least 4 600 people were injured.
Germany said on Thursday that it was shocked by the tragedy of the powerful earthquake.
”It is with sadness and dismay that the German government learned of the terrible earthquake in Algeria. The great number of deaths, injured and homeless has caused shock in Germany. Our sympathy goes to the victims and their families,” Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said in a statement.
A team of emergency service experts left Germany early on Thursday to help with rescue efforts, and further specialists with sniffer dogs and equipment were preparing to leave, the Interior Ministry said.
In a similar expression of support France on Thursday sent 110 civil defence officers with sniffer dogs and specialist equipment to help in the rescue effort.
Officials said they were in contact with the Algerian authorities with a view to providing whatever extra assistance was requested.
President Jacques Chirac sent a message of condolence to his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
”More than ever France stands beside Algeria and its friends the Algerian people during this cruel blow. France is ready to send all the material assistance necessary to help them get through its effects,” he said.
After the quake struck on Wednesday night the capital was plunged into darkness as powerlines were cut and the screams of women and children could be heard as they fled from their apartments.
One young woman fainted while old women, trembling with fear, were helped to safety by neighbours outside 14-storey apartment block in an eastern suburb.
”Old Rashid. Don’t forget old Rashid. Help his wife to get down,” someone shouted into the night sky after the devastating quake.
”Mummy, mummy, don’t leave me!” cried a terrorised child.
Debris was strewn around the building as the facade cascaded down with a frightening noise, spreading more panic among the fleeing residents.
”My apartment was completely devastated. The armchair, the crockery, the TV, everything was thrown to the ground, broken,” said a shaken Seghir, who lives on the top floor of D block.
”I was on the balcony, looking at central Algiers when I saw what looked like an enormous dust cloud. I went dizzy as the building began to sway back and forth like a see-saw. All the furniture fell over, the chandelier flew out of the window,” bemoaned her neighbour Lounis.
After the initial blind panic subsided, the residents began to organise themselves.
The gas supply was switched off at the mains and a guard was mounted to ward off looters.
A rumour had already spread that one looter had been surprised and beaten up by angry residents in a nearby block.
Debris was removed, by whatever means available, from the street to allow traffic to pass.
The mayor and police officers were swiftly on the scene and women and children were taken to the town hall and a local school.
Bottles of water and bread were distributed as the most traumatised were comforted by the less traumatised.
Wrapped in blankets and sitting on the ground, the survivors prepared for a long night. — Sapa-AFP