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For the Victims of the El Asnam Earthquake

Solidarity with those affected by the El Asnam earthquake On October 10, 1980 at 1:24 p.m., a destructive earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, struck the wilaya of El Asnam, located 200 km west of Algiers. Accompanied by a terrible rumbling, the earthquake lasted fifteen seconds. The epicenter of this deadly earthquake was located in the town of Béni Rached, 15 km east of the town of El Asnam. The fault plunged deep into the hypocenter for several tens of kilometers in length. A strong aftershock measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale was recorded one hour after the main shock. A seismogenic reverse fault was observed over 36 km. A maximum vertical movement of 6 m was measured between Zebabdja and Ouled-Abbas, near Oued Fodda. The town of El Asnam was 80% devastated. Human losses in El Asnam and surrounding villages are estimated at nearly 3,000 dead, more than 8,500 injured and 348 missing. The total damage recorded shows 6,778,948 victims, 480,000 homeless, 30,000 homes destroyed and 60,000 damaged. Material damage to buildings and infrastructure was estimated at more than $4 billion. Immediately, the government put in place an enormous system to rescue the affected population. Convoys of ambulances and public works equipment were directed to the earthquake zone. En masse, doctors, nurses, machine operators and ordinary citizens volunteered to help the survivors. A gigantic outpouring of solidarity was observed across the entire national territory. A zone of regular seismic activity, El Asnam was already shaken by a devastating earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, on September 9, 1954. The death toll from the disaster rose to 1,243 dead and 5,000 injured.