Red Cross teams save five from the rubble of new earthquake in El Salvador
14 February 2001

Red Cross emergency teams were on the spot within minutes after yesterday's earthquake in El Salvador and pulled at least five people alive from the rubble. Support is also being provided by the Salvadorean Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to patients evacuated from four district hospitals in the disaster zone.

The earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was 30 kilometres east of San Salvador. According to Salvadorean Red Cross, it killed at least 230 people and injured more than 1,500. Occurring just one month after a strong tremor left more than 800 people dead, 4,500 injured and more than half a million homeless, it caused landslides and provoked widespread panic throughout the affected area.

Some 300 Red Cross volunteers were deployed to provide first aid and assist with the evacuation of the victims. Within the first few hours, Red Cross teams provided first aid services to 324 people and distributed rolls of plastic sheeting, tarpaulins and blankets. Eight Salvadorean Red Cross and Federation teams were dispatched to assess damage and needs in the affected area.

"The water supply systems in different communities of La Paz and San Vincente have been severely damaged. It is essential for us to find ways to increase the supply of clean water to the affected population", says Iain Logan, Federation Operations Manager in El Salvador.

The hardest hit areas are the departments of San Vincente, 60 km east, La Paz, 30 km south-east and Cuscatlan, 28 km north-east from the capital San Salvador. The four district hospitals in the disaster zone have been severely affected. Five Salvador Red Cross medical teams were sent to assist the hospital staff and delivered shelter material to set up open air wards.

Delegates from the American Red Cross are distributing water and blankets in San Vincente while French and Spanish Red Cross medical teams are active in La Paz and Cuscatlan. The International Federation will revise the appeal issued for El Salvador last month to take account of the additional needs in shelter, water and health.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Geneva:

Denis McClean, Head, Media Service Tel.: +41 22 730 4428
Duty phone Tel: +41 79 416 3881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 176 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.