El Salvador Still Dealing with Effects of Deadly Quake

Written by Stephanie Kriner, Staff Writer, RedCross.org, with news reports

February 1, 2001 — As the world focuses most of its attention on the aftermath of an even more deadly earthquake in India, El Salvador continues recover from a magnitude 7.6 temblor that killed 726 people and injured 4,440 earlier this month, according to government figures. While thousands remain homeless, many people who have slept outside for two weeks in fear of aftershocks are beginning to put their lives back together.

"Since the aftershocks have slowed down, people are a little braver to move on … It seems like those who still have homes are starting to get back somewhat to their normal lives," said Deana Frausto, team leader for the American Red Cross in El Salvador.

The American Red Cross is providing latrines to those still living in the Cafetalon shelter. Photo courtesy of the IFRC

The Jan. 13 quake damaged or destroyed more than 190,000 homes and 850 public buildings. The homeless remain in outdoor camps or shelters and still depend on relief agencies to supply them with food, water and bedding. There are 130 shelters housing some 50,000 people across the country, according to an International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (Federation) report.

"This disaster has had a profound impact on the country," says Iain Logan, leader of the Federation's assessment team. "More then 1 million people have been directly affected, with some 500,000 people now homeless."

Meanwhile dozens of local and foreign volunteers continue to dig for bodies buried under mountains of dirt in Las Colinas, a densely populated neighborhood in the city of Santa Tecla where a quake-triggered landslide buried 300 homes. Local residents say as many as 1,000 people remain missing.

"The work is slow to avoid dismembering bodies," German Schleehauf, an official from the Guatemalan highway department, told the Associated Press. At least 315 died in the mudslide, according to the Federation.

Although aftershocks have subsided, occasional tremors have kept officials on guard. On Monday, the government asked hundreds of residents of high-risk areas to evacuate their homes after three small earthquakes shook the country. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

The American Red Cross has trained El Salvadoran Red Cross volunteers to help chilren deal with the emotional consequences of the disaster. Photo courtesy of the IFRC

The American Red Cross, in conjunction with the El Salvadoran Red Cross, has helped some 137,000 people affected by the disaster. In addition to supplying water, blankets, latrines and plastic sheeting to people in some of the worst hit areas, the American Red Cross is helping the El Salvadoran Red Cross extend mental health counseling to victims, teach children proper hygeine to prevent disease outbreaks and link families separated during the earthquake.

The American Red Cross has supplied water containers and more than 700,000 liters of water to people living in camps and shelters. "In some cases, their water systems were damaged so badly that their water supply has become contaminated. Others' water lines were damaged," Frausto said. "Since we're still in the relief phase, it's important to get them clean water until they repair their water systems."

The rebuilding of both structures and people's spirits will take time, said Frausto, who has been emotionally stirred by drawings of some of the children being helped by American Red Cross-trained mental health counselors. "When you look at the drawings, you see rocks and people falling down. It's been a traumatic experience for the children," she said.

El Salvador has yet to realize the full impacts of the destructive quake and mudslide that shocked a country still recovering from the damages caused by Hurricane Mitch more than two years ago. "Some places with damage are still being discovered," Frausto said. "It's not over, but at least the aftershocks have subsided."