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Algerian State Radio: 5.8 Earthquake Hits Algeria
Aired May 27, 2003 - 13:56 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to us from our international desk: reports of what appears to be an aftershock in Algeria, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, some 6 days after that killer earthquake there which killed in excess of 1,200 people, injured 9,000 others, caused terrible devastation.
With us on the line to tell us a little bit about it -- he's on the ground there in Algeria -- is Paul Bendern. He is with Reuters.
Paul, what can you tell us?
PAUL BENDERN, REUTERS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we just had a tremor here, which lasted several seconds and state radio said it measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. We have spoken to police down in one of the cities in Moray (ph) who said that several buildings collapsed. That's all I can say at the moment. They're not calling it an earthquake, but we have to monitor the situation.
O'BRIEN: Well, 5.8 would be getting close to being some thing you might want to call an earthquake. Tremor, earthquake, as we look at -- by the way this is file footage from last week. We should make that clear to our viewers.
Paul, you said there were reports of buildings that had collapsed?
BENDERN: Yes, we spoke to the policeman down in one of the towns who said that some buildings collapsed and we have to still monitor it further.
O'BRIEN: OK, how long ago did this happen?
BENDERN: About 40 minutes ago.
O'BRIEN: OK, and does it appear to be centered in the same vicinity...
BENDERN: Yes, yes, the same area.
O'BRIEN: OK.
BENDERN: In eastern Algeria.
O'BRIEN: OK -- and do we -- do you have any reports of the response -- what the response is or -- certainly, there would be rescue workers on the scene. BENDERN: Yes, there would be, but it's just too early to say. Just came on now and we're just verifying the reports.
O'BRIEN: All right.
BENDERN: State radio says people shouldn't panic. But more than that, I can't really tell you.
O'BRIEN: Were you able to feel anything?
BENDERN: Oh, yes, definitely, it was very, very strong. Lasted several seconds.
O'BRIEN: All right.
Once again, we're looking at file footage from six days ago, that killer earthquake, we're told, there's a 5.8 magnitude tremor, earthquake, whatever you want to call it, probably an aftershock, right in that same area, of Algeria, as if they need more than that.
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Aired May 27, 2003 - 13:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to us from our international desk: reports of what appears to be an aftershock in Algeria, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, some 6 days after that killer earthquake there which killed in excess of 1,200 people, injured 9,000 others, caused terrible devastation.
With us on the line to tell us a little bit about it -- he's on the ground there in Algeria -- is Paul Bendern. He is with Reuters.
Paul, what can you tell us?
PAUL BENDERN, REUTERS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we just had a tremor here, which lasted several seconds and state radio said it measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. We have spoken to police down in one of the cities in Moray (ph) who said that several buildings collapsed. That's all I can say at the moment. They're not calling it an earthquake, but we have to monitor the situation.
O'BRIEN: Well, 5.8 would be getting close to being some thing you might want to call an earthquake. Tremor, earthquake, as we look at -- by the way this is file footage from last week. We should make that clear to our viewers.
Paul, you said there were reports of buildings that had collapsed?
BENDERN: Yes, we spoke to the policeman down in one of the towns who said that some buildings collapsed and we have to still monitor it further.
O'BRIEN: OK, how long ago did this happen?
BENDERN: About 40 minutes ago.
O'BRIEN: OK, and does it appear to be centered in the same vicinity...
BENDERN: Yes, yes, the same area.
O'BRIEN: OK.
BENDERN: In eastern Algeria.
O'BRIEN: OK -- and do we -- do you have any reports of the response -- what the response is or -- certainly, there would be rescue workers on the scene. BENDERN: Yes, there would be, but it's just too early to say. Just came on now and we're just verifying the reports.
O'BRIEN: All right.
BENDERN: State radio says people shouldn't panic. But more than that, I can't really tell you.
O'BRIEN: Were you able to feel anything?
BENDERN: Oh, yes, definitely, it was very, very strong. Lasted several seconds.
O'BRIEN: All right.
Once again, we're looking at file footage from six days ago, that killer earthquake, we're told, there's a 5.8 magnitude tremor, earthquake, whatever you want to call it, probably an aftershock, right in that same area, of Algeria, as if they need more than that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
