Over 7,000 People Left Homeless By String of Quakes in Altai

October 1, 2003

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - According to the latest reports, the string of powerful earthquakes in the republic of Altai, in southeastern Russia, has gravely damaged 1,889 residential facilities, home to a total 7,371 tenants.

According to the federal Emergencies Ministry, the highland Kosh-Agach area, in the republic's east, is among the worst affected, with about 2,000 local inhabitants left roofless. This area was the epicenter of last Saturday's earthquake, measuring 10 on the Richter scale. An 8.5 aftershock rumbled through the area this morning.

Some two hundred tremors have been registered in the republic since September 27, with eleven of them measuring above 3.5, the ministry reports. They have totally or partially destroyed 25 schools, 16 hospitals, 12 public service facilities, and 7 boiler houses.

Neighboring regions continue to provide humanitarian relief for the quake-stricken Altai republic.

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