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American Morning
Algeria Quake
Aired May 23, 2003 - 09:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is a race against time in Algeria. Rescuers are still searching for survivors of Wednesday's powerful earthquake there, and the death toll is rising.
Our Rym Brahimi joins us now live by phone from the capital, Algiers, with the very latest.
Hello to you, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi -- 1,467 dead, that's the latest figure provided by the Algerian government, and it's still rising. In one province alone, the one that's closest to the epicenter, that's 835 dead. More than 1,200 disappeared, and 10,000 people in that area have been left without homes.
Now, the extent of the damage is huge. Entire neighborhoods, buildings have been totally flattened. Houses have been severely damaged, and a lot of people are still caught under rubble. As you mentioned, a race against time. A lot of damage done as well to water pipes, so there is no clean water in certain areas and no electricity.
There has been a national mobilization. A lot of people throughout the country have been coming forward to give blood and to help, and international rescue efforts have been pouring in from various parts of the world. France, of course, as well as Britain, Italy, many parts of Europe, Russia, Turkey and neighboring Morocco and Libya, all bringing in humanitarian aid, and bringing in recuse workers with sniffer dogs to help find those people that are still caught under the rubble -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Rym, I'm looking at some figures here about disaster relief -- $50,000 from the United Nations, $154,000 from the International Federation of the Red cross and the Red Crescent Society. This does not sound like much at this time. What are you hearing about more aid, that might be coming in, at least monetarily?
BRAHIMI: Indeed, Heidi. It doesn't sound like very much. South Korea has promised to send $100,000, and the Chinese Red Cross is sending $50,000. Maybe accumulated, it will add up to something, but definitely there's a huge need right now. The need to -- for rescue and urgent rescue efforts are huge, not to mention the homeless. In one province alone, as I mentioned, 10,000 people are stranded without homes. They're living outside. Not enough tents, although a lot of blankets have been brought in, and some equipment, but there's going to be a lot of need just for -- just to help people while things are restored, and while the buildings, or some buildings, are being rebuilt for them to be able to have normal homes, but that's expected to take some time.
HEMMER: Rym Brahimi, live in Algiers, updating us on that number from 1,000 to 1,400 people dead. We will keep our eye on the story as always.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 23, 2003 - 09:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is a race against time in Algeria. Rescuers are still searching for survivors of Wednesday's powerful earthquake there, and the death toll is rising.
Our Rym Brahimi joins us now live by phone from the capital, Algiers, with the very latest.
Hello to you, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi -- 1,467 dead, that's the latest figure provided by the Algerian government, and it's still rising. In one province alone, the one that's closest to the epicenter, that's 835 dead. More than 1,200 disappeared, and 10,000 people in that area have been left without homes.
Now, the extent of the damage is huge. Entire neighborhoods, buildings have been totally flattened. Houses have been severely damaged, and a lot of people are still caught under rubble. As you mentioned, a race against time. A lot of damage done as well to water pipes, so there is no clean water in certain areas and no electricity.
There has been a national mobilization. A lot of people throughout the country have been coming forward to give blood and to help, and international rescue efforts have been pouring in from various parts of the world. France, of course, as well as Britain, Italy, many parts of Europe, Russia, Turkey and neighboring Morocco and Libya, all bringing in humanitarian aid, and bringing in recuse workers with sniffer dogs to help find those people that are still caught under the rubble -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Rym, I'm looking at some figures here about disaster relief -- $50,000 from the United Nations, $154,000 from the International Federation of the Red cross and the Red Crescent Society. This does not sound like much at this time. What are you hearing about more aid, that might be coming in, at least monetarily?
BRAHIMI: Indeed, Heidi. It doesn't sound like very much. South Korea has promised to send $100,000, and the Chinese Red Cross is sending $50,000. Maybe accumulated, it will add up to something, but definitely there's a huge need right now. The need to -- for rescue and urgent rescue efforts are huge, not to mention the homeless. In one province alone, as I mentioned, 10,000 people are stranded without homes. They're living outside. Not enough tents, although a lot of blankets have been brought in, and some equipment, but there's going to be a lot of need just for -- just to help people while things are restored, and while the buildings, or some buildings, are being rebuilt for them to be able to have normal homes, but that's expected to take some time.
HEMMER: Rym Brahimi, live in Algiers, updating us on that number from 1,000 to 1,400 people dead. We will keep our eye on the story as always.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
