Zemmouri, Algeria: Mw 6.8 Earthquake of May 21, 2003Curtis L. Edwards Sponsored by the Earthquake Investigations Committee of the Technical Council of Lifeline Earthquake Engineering of ASCE. This TCLEE Monograph summarizes the damage done to various lifelines from the 6.8 Mw earthquake that occurred in the coastal waters off the Boumerdes Department, east of Algiers, Algeria, on May 21, 2003. An estimated 2,266 people were killed, 10,260 injured, and more than 200,000 left homeless. Many of the three- to five-story reinforced concrete apartment buildings, less than three years old, were destroyed by either total or partial collapse. Topics include: geosciences and geotechnical engineering; general building damage; potable water systems; power systems; the highway system; ports and airports; railroads; communication systems; oil and liquid fuels; hospitals; and emergency response. Readers will benefit from the lessons learned sections, which analyze other lifeline systems and compare expected earthquake performance, thus helping to minimize damage, save money, and reduce recovery time. |
