Spain earthquake leaves ancient city perilously fragile
| Madrid
Residents of Lorca in southeastern Spain slept on rubble-filled streets last night after two earthquakes hit the centuries-old city, killing at least nine people and injuring almost 300.
The first 4.5 magnitude quake hit shortly after 5 p.m. local time Wednesday followed by the larger 5.1 magnitude temblor at 6.47 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey. Dozens of aftershocks have been felt. It was the deadliest series of quakes in Spain since 1956.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on the streets. We鈥檙e scared. People don鈥檛 know what to do. Everything is bad,鈥� says Consuelo Gallardo in a telephone interview. Her mother鈥檚 building is in shambles.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 go into our homes. We鈥檙e only allowed to gather the indispensable. An entire neighborhood will have to be entirely tore down,鈥� says Mrs. Gallardo, who spoke from Lorca鈥檚 La Torrecilla sporting center, which is being used to shelter some of the thousands who have been left homeless.
Tens of thousands slept on the street last night unable to enter buildings that could still be at risk of collapse. Officials blame falling rubble for many of the injuries.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the middle of a panic attack because the church is about to collapse,鈥� says a man reached by phone in the El Carmen Church who did not want to give his name.
Francisco J贸dar, Lorca鈥檚 mayor, told journalists the city 鈥渓ooks like Beirut, with everything torn to the ground and huge cracks on the walls. It鈥檚 like waking to a nightmare following a long night, with every neighbor in the street."
The region鈥檚 President Ram贸n Luis Valc谩rcel said 80 percent of the buildings in Lorca are damaged and the country鈥檚 Prime Minister Jos茅 Luis Rodr铆guez Zapatero assured reconstruction expenses 鈥渨ould not be shortchanged.鈥�
Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo P茅rez Rubalcaba said 420 military personnel are involved in rescue efforts and that shelter for 3,500 people would be ready for tonight. 鈥淚 hope all those who can鈥檛 sleep in their homes have a decent place to spend the night,鈥� Mr. Rubalcaba said in Lorca.
鈥淭he reaction has been fabulous. Everyone is helping,鈥� said Gallardo. But questions are sure to be raised, especially because many of the damaged buildings were newly built.
鈥淢any of the new ones fell,鈥� she said. "It鈥檚 macabre. How could they build that way? The old buildings resisted more. Many architects are reviewing this now.鈥�
Lorca, which was already struck by a 4.6 magnitude quake in 2005, lies in an area of seismic activity and the Cofrentes nuclear plant in Valencia is about 125 miles to the north. Political parties and environmental groups have already demanded the plant be shut down as a precaution. It's one of the country's largest nuclear plants.
