The search goes on - but thousands are feared buried

An Italian team first heard the girl's screams in the devastated town of Boumerdes, near Algiers, and with UK and Spanish colleagues they are now using concrete-cutting gear in a race against time.

The girl - buried in what was a six-storey building - managed to tell them her name, Sabrina, and age. But since then there has been little noise, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby reports.

Rescuers are working round-the-clock - but the death toll from Wednesday's quake has risen above 1,700, with more than 7,000 injured.

Our correspondent says the Algerian authorities are failing to co-ordinate the many search and sniffer dog teams - repeatedly crews have been mobilised, only to be sent straight back to base camp.

Infrastructure wrecked

The relief effort is also being hampered by road damage and crowds of anxious relatives in the worst-hit areas.

ALGERIAN EARTHQUAKES 22 December 1999: 28 dead and 175 injured in north-west 18 August 1994: 172 dead and 288 injured in western region of Mascara 29 October 1989: 30 dead and 400 injured in Tipaza region 10 October 1980: About 3,000 dead and 8,000 injured and in al-Asnam 9 and 16 September 1954: 1,400 dead and 14,000 injured

Rescuers and medical teams have flown in from several European countries, South Africa and Japan but in some cases they have been kept waiting for up to 10 hours at Algiers airport.

Algerians have voiced anger at their government, accusing it of being too slow and disorganised in its response to the disaster.

Willie McMartin of the International Rescue Corps told the BBC that rescuers, equipped with sniffer dogs and thermal imaging kit, had "possibly another 24 hours maximum" to find people alive in the rubble.

Only dead bodies have been recovered since a toddler, Emilie Kaidi, was plucked alive from a collapsed building on Friday.

Our correspondent says remote villages hit by the earthquake are difficult to reach, with a key road badly cracked and blocked with debris.

Chaos

Huge traffic jams are also causing delays as anxious relatives flock to the disaster area, with severed phone lines contributing to the chaos.

Workers celebrated the rescue of a toddler More pictures

There is an urgent need for medicines and shelter, with more than 7,000 people injured.

At a local hospital the situation was chaotic, with injured people pouring in, our correspondent says. One doctor held his head in his hands and repeated the phrase "too much, too much!"

After years of conflict between Islamic militants and the security forces the authorities are also reluctant to send rescuers into areas where they might not be safe, our correspondent says.

Even Algerian engineers are repairing roads under armed escort.

International effort

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - which has a team of experts on the scene - is co-ordinating relief efforts.

The agency has already requested $1.5m to provide assistance including medicines, food and blankets.

The rescue of the toddler in Boumerdes took place 36 hours after the tremor hit.

Drivers abandoned their cars and started running, without knowing where they were going BBC's Mohamed Arezki Himeur Eyewitness account

Pulled out of the ruins of a five-storey building wearing just a torn orange T-shirt, the girl was given oxygen and taken away for treatment.

Algeria has begun three days of national mourning, but there will be no pause in the rescue effort.

The UN children's fund Unicef was set to send a plane carrying tents and emergency supplies for 120,000 people on Saturday.

Overnight, powerful after-shocks hitting Algiers and surrounding areas convinced many people to spend their third night in parks and open spaces.

In Reghaia, 35km (22 miles) east of Algiers, authorities requisitioned the municipal stadium, setting up tents for families whose houses were destroyed in the earthquake.

Did you witness the earthquake?

Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which will be published below.

Thanks to God all my neighbours are still alive Hacine Abdelkrim Skender, Algiers Algeria

The tremor that Algeria has witnessed was appalling for everybody, particularly for children. Thousands of houses were damaged, more than 90 buildings were devastated. At that time I was at the mosque waiting for the call to prayer. Suddenly I heard a terrible noise of a plane, the windows blew up and the wall collapsed. After the end of tremor everybody rushed into their house. Thanks to God all my neighbours are still alive, now we are spending nights in the streets
Hacine Abdelkrim Skender, Algiers Algeria

My boyfriend Karim Reffai is in the Casbah area of Algiers and I have not been able to contact him. I am so worried as I love him dearly.
Debbie Garcia, England

I've never seen such a thing in my life! This earthquake is unique. The walls seemed to move in all directions and the heavy sound they made while moving deafened us. Condolences to all the victims' families (including my dear teacher Mrs Oubraham Naima and her husband).
Amina B, Ben Aknoun, Algiers, Algeria

I just hope every one is ok back home Dahmane, UK

I am originally form Thenia which is the epicentre and I have been trying since yesterday evening to call home but no luck, following the news on our Algerian TV which I found useless. I just hope every one is ok back home.
Dahmane, UK

Waves from the earthquake have arrived in Ibiza and Menorca (we're due north), and have been so strong that they have damaged vessels in the harbours here. I can't imagine what it must have been like in Algiers. Send them what help you can.
J. Roberts, Spain

It was the booming noise that first alerted us that something was wrong. However, before we had the chance to do anything the room was violently shaking. My wife took our baby and got under the dining room table. Two friends suggested we go outside. The first shock lasted two or three minutes and smashed plates in the kitchen and brought plaster and paint of the walls. There were some pretty big after shocks throughout the night. The state of many buildings is still uncertain with some having gaping cracks. We pray that there isn't another as lots of buildings in Algiers are unsafe and in disrepair. As I write we are still feeling the aftershocks.
Robert Bailey, Algiers, Algeria

I have never seen anything like it in my life and I'm not even sure if my family are still alive!
Polopy Husir, Algeria

Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.

Click here to return