Earthquake kills nine in Spain

Historic town of Lorca hit by quake that leaves thousands homeless.

Travel Insurance News - 12/05/2011

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Nine people are dead and thousands have had to sleep outdoors after two earthquakes hit Lorca, a town in Spain. Nearly all of the 90,000 people who live in Lorca were forced to spend last night outside.

The quake, Spain’s worst for half a century, damaged some 20,000 buildings, many of them historic structures. The town was hit by two quakes, the first having a magnitude of 4.4.

The second earthquake, which struck two hours later, was measured at 5.2. Falling masonry showered down by the second quake killed nine people, including a child and at least one woman who was pregnant.

According to authorities in the region, at least 130 people suffered injuries. Several of those are reported to be in serious condition.

The mayor of Lorca, Franciso Jodar, said most of his town’s residents were forced to spend the night in cars, public squares, streets or nearby towns. Some people spent the night camping in children’s playgrounds or outside basketball courts.

At dawn, many people queued up to receive hot drinks and food supplied by emergency workers. Some people returned to their homes to check on the damage but many were ordered to stay away from homes and other buildings until experts could assess the safety of the structures.

The Red Cross brought in 24 ambulances and has erected three field hospitals. Meanwhile, military teams are combing the rubble for survivors and victims, as well as starting to clean-up the town and assessing which buildings can safely be entered.

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