6 – 16 – 2003
In Algeria on May 21, 2003 an earthquake killed
2,200 people and injured more than 9,000. The earthquake hit 50 miles from
Algiers in North Africa.
It was a major earthquake. It is the biggest in 23
years. It crushed cars and buildings. The vibrations lasted almost a minute.
France and other countries helped. This quake was
the first one since March 1980. In that year, 2,500 people died in a quake with
magnitude of 7.7.
The earth is still not even. The quake will strike
the same region in 23 years from now. A thrust felt produces an earthquake when
one block of earth pushes upward over another.