Military

DATE=05/28/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= ALGERIA / QUAKE / S

NUMBER=2-303706

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=CAIRO

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Algeria is reporting powerful earthquake aftershocks hitting its northern coastal area. Up to nine people were feared killed Tuesday and some 200 others were injured. From Cairo, V-O-A's Dale Gavlak reports another strong aftershock was felt Wednesday.

TEXT: Authorities say aftershocks measuring above five on the Richter scale have hit northern Algeria.

A strong new earthquake shook the capital Algiers on Wednesday morning. Just before dinner-time Tuesday, another tremor struck -- flattening more buildings and terrifying victims once again, less than a week after an earthquake killed 22-hundred people.

Authorities say those injured by the new tremors are in the capital, Algiers, and points east of the city, like Boumerdes and Zemmouri. These areas were badly devastated by last week's strong quake.

Relief workers say the new quakes will further pressure Algeria's already-stretched hospital and emergency services. Many of the international rescue teams, which flew in to aid victims of last week's quake, left earlier in the week, as hopes for finding additional survivors faded. (Signed)

NEB/DG/WD