Health workers fear outbreaks of disease

Workers have fanned out across the region on the eastern coast of the country with the aim of preventing outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.

Medics and aid workers said so far there were no signs of diarrhoea epidemics among the population, but there was a risk they would flare up in the makeshift camps many residents have been forced to live in after their houses were destroyed.

The Algerian authorities on Monday promised to investigate whether shoddy construction work was to blame for the high death toll in last week's earthquake.

At least 2,162 people are now known to have been killed and almost 9,000 injured during the tremor, while 2,000 people are reported to be missing.

Searches called off

Efforts to find survivors have also wound down after workers said there was little chance that anyone remained alive in the crumpled buildings.

ALGERIAN EARTHQUAKES 22 December 1999: 28 dead and 175 injured in north-west 18 August 1994: 172 dead and 288 injured in western region of Mascara 29 October 1989: 30 dead and 400 injured in Tipaza region 10 October 1980: About 3,000 dead and 8,000 injured and in al-Asnam 9 and 16 September 1954: 1,400 dead and 14,000 injured

Algerian and Italian firefighters, along with local residents and family members had raced to rescue Sabrina Belmoumene, but a pillar from the building had collapsed on top of her, French news agency AFP reported.

"She was an angel. She will go to heaven," one rescuer said.

International rescuers in Algeria have also called off their search for survivors of the earthquake.

The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Boumerdes says the camp site serving as the central headquarters of the international teams is a scene of frenzied activity as rescuers prepare to go home.

Mike Penrose, a member of the UK rescue contingent, told the BBC the chances of finding anyone alive were now "so minimal that we feel putting our own people into buildings would be more risk".

Government accused

Many Algerians have called for the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was mobbed by angry crowds when he toured Boumerdes.

"All guilty" ran a front page banner headline in Liberte, which accused the state, housing developers and construction companies of violating building codes to cut costs.

Those whose homes are still standing have little idea when they will be able to return.

"It could be another week, a year, we don't know. Nobody has told us anything," Kafia Chamel who has been sleeping on a blanket outside his home told the Associated Press news agency.

There have also been reports that Islamic radicals have stepped to the fore since the disaster struck last Wednesday.

The "boulahya" or bearded ones, have had a high profile at earthquake sites offering prayers and help.

"This Islamism that is redeploying on the ruins cannot be combated by the government's pronouncements and religiosity," said an editorial in Le Matin newspaper.

On Monday the government promised to crack down on what it called "illegal collections and distribution of aid" although it did not mention any particular groups that were involved.

Did you witness the earthquake?

Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which will be published below.

I managed to talk to my family in Setif, eastern Algeria for the first time since Black Wednesday. My mum told me that she felt the quake and had a headache that forced her to sit down. My uncle who lives in a block of flats that was built in the French era (Batiments de Nakhla), told me that the lustre(or the lighting set on the roof of his flat) had trembled at the time of the quake.
Abderazak Bakhouche, Algeria/ UK

Thanks to God all my neighbours are still alive Hacine Abdelkrim Skender, Algiers Algeria

My boyfriend Karim Reffai is in the Casbah area of Algiers and I have not been able to contact him. I am so worried as I love him dearly.
Debbie Garcia, England

I've never seen such a thing in my life! This earthquake is unique. The walls seemed to move in all directions and the heavy sound they made while moving deafened us. Condolences to all the victims' families (including my dear teacher Mrs Oubraham Naima and her husband).
Amina B, Ben Aknoun, Algiers, Algeria

I just hope every one is ok back home Dahmane, UK

Waves from the earthquake have arrived in Ibiza and Menorca (we're due north), and have been so strong that they have damaged vessels in the harbours here. I can't imagine what it must have been like in Algiers. Send them what help you can.
J. Roberts, Spain

It was the booming noise that first alerted us that something was wrong. However, before we had the chance to do anything the room was violently shaking. My wife took our baby and got under the dining room table. Two friends suggested we go outside. The first shock lasted two or three minutes and smashed plates in the kitchen and brought plaster and paint of the walls. There were some pretty big after shocks throughout the night. The state of many buildings is still uncertain with some having gaping cracks. We pray that there isn't another as lots of buildings in Algiers are unsafe and in disrepair. As I write we are still feeling the aftershocks.
Robert Bailey, Algiers, Algeria

I have never seen anything like it in my life and I'm not even sure if my family are still alive!
Polopy Husir, Algeria

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