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Quake Death Toll Rises
Aired May 22, 2003 - 14:26 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This just coming in to CNN.
Updated numbers on that earthquake in Algeria. We are told the death toll now exceeding 1,000 people after that earthquake in Algiers. Let's go to Rym Brahimi. She's on the phone with us now with more details -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, indeed. Algerian state radio is quoting the Algerian interior minister as saying there are now 1,092 dead from the earthquake that hit the Algerian capital last night.
There are also some 6,782 injured. Now, that's a very, very big number, of course, as you can imagine. We understand that it may go up. There are still a lot of people that are caught underneath rubble. They are trying to pull people out, still, as we speak, and that's been going on since last night, but people here are very much afraid of going back to their homes in the areas where the earthquake was the strongest. There's a lot of people under shock still. A lot of areas, even, that I passed on my way arriving into the Algerian capital where people were afraid to go back to their building, because the buildings were old and threatening to collapse. So this is a very big earthquake that Algeria hasn't seen in many, many years -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rym, are there enough doctors to treat all the injured? What's the status with the hospitals and the medical response?
BRAHIMI: Well, there are, probably, enough doctors, but definitely it's the hospital beds, probably the hospitals do seem overwhelmed from what I've been seeing. A lot of people just flowing in and they're being taken to some of the hospitals in central Algiers for treatment. They are also trying to get more blood donations. We also understand that a couple of teams -- rescue teams will be arriving from France some time between today and tomorrow to help. These are teams that are specialized in pulling people out of rubble, finding people. So a big effort underway, but of course, there's still very, very much to do, as you can imagine -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rym Brahimi, live via telephone there from Algeria as we continue to follow the latest news, more than 1,000 people now, the death toll in Algeria, since that earthquake hit.
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 22, 2003 - 14:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This just coming in to CNN.
Updated numbers on that earthquake in Algeria. We are told the death toll now exceeding 1,000 people after that earthquake in Algiers. Let's go to Rym Brahimi. She's on the phone with us now with more details -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, indeed. Algerian state radio is quoting the Algerian interior minister as saying there are now 1,092 dead from the earthquake that hit the Algerian capital last night.
There are also some 6,782 injured. Now, that's a very, very big number, of course, as you can imagine. We understand that it may go up. There are still a lot of people that are caught underneath rubble. They are trying to pull people out, still, as we speak, and that's been going on since last night, but people here are very much afraid of going back to their homes in the areas where the earthquake was the strongest. There's a lot of people under shock still. A lot of areas, even, that I passed on my way arriving into the Algerian capital where people were afraid to go back to their building, because the buildings were old and threatening to collapse. So this is a very big earthquake that Algeria hasn't seen in many, many years -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rym, are there enough doctors to treat all the injured? What's the status with the hospitals and the medical response?
BRAHIMI: Well, there are, probably, enough doctors, but definitely it's the hospital beds, probably the hospitals do seem overwhelmed from what I've been seeing. A lot of people just flowing in and they're being taken to some of the hospitals in central Algiers for treatment. They are also trying to get more blood donations. We also understand that a couple of teams -- rescue teams will be arriving from France some time between today and tomorrow to help. These are teams that are specialized in pulling people out of rubble, finding people. So a big effort underway, but of course, there's still very, very much to do, as you can imagine -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rym Brahimi, live via telephone there from Algeria as we continue to follow the latest news, more than 1,000 people now, the death toll in Algeria, since that earthquake hit.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
