ALGERIAN EARTHQUAKE

All deployed UK Dog Teams (UKFSSART, CANIS, BIRD) on return to Manchester

INTRODUCTION

The Algerian earthquake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and struck the northern region of Algeria, close to the capital Algiers, at 19:44 local time on 21 May 2003. The epicenter of the quake was situated 45 miles east of Algiers and six miles below ground. Bourmedes (50 kilometers east of Algiers) was the most affected area whilst several buildings collapsed in the densely populated Algiers neighbourhoods of Bab El-Oued and Belcourt. The final death toll reached in excess of 2000 although it is unlikely that precise numbers will ever be determined.

 DEPLOYMENT

The immediate response teams of the United Kingdom Fire Services Search and Rescue Team  (UKFSSART) deployed from Stanstead airport at 22.00 hours on Thursday 23^rd October 2003. The search dog teams members were Station Officer Keith Hampton, Sub Officer Neil Mayne, FF Chris Rollestone and FF Chris Pritchard. The 2 search dogs were “Max” belonging to Keith Hampton and “Gemma” belonging to Chris Pritchard.

The 46 strong UKFSSART team was lead by DCO Jerry O’Neill from Lancashire, with DO Peter Halleron from Lancashire acting as Operations Commander and A.I. Keith Ring from HMFSI coordinating the Command Support Functions.

The UKFSSART team was part of a larger UK search and rescue mission organised by the Department for International Development. This included members of the International Rescue Corps, Rapid UK, BIRD and CANIS, all of which are Non Government Organisations. Dr Iain Mc Neill of the UKFSSART medical board provided medical cover for all UK personnel. The UK response was part of an international rescue response coordinated by a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team. 

 The British team arrived in Algeria during the early hours of Friday 23^rd May.

 On arrival the team moved to the town of Boumerdec and after setting up an operating base in a sports stadium, they commenced search and rescue operations in the neighboring towns of Boudosaou-Lel Bahir, Thenia and Zemmouri-El Bahri. These operations consisted of physical searches within collapsed buildings using the search dogs supported by a combination of acoustic and audio search equipment. No live casualties were located although the Leicestershire team members were involved in a protracted search for an 11-year-old girl who had made contact with a team of Italian rescuers. The girl was trapped within a collapsed apartment block but sadly died before rescue.

The Leicestershire search dogs also worked extensively with the Local Civil Defence in searching buildings previously checked by teams who hadn’t access to either dog teams or sophisticated search equipment. The intention was to confirm that these buildings where positively clear before the heavy machinery moved in for demolition.

RETURN TO UK  

The Algerian authorities called off the search and rescue operations during the evening of Saturday 24^th May. The team then quit their base camp, moving to a hotel in Algeria before flying home on Monday 26^th May.