EYGPT CRISIS
BREAKING NEWS [interviewing GINA HAKIM]
Earthquakes can affect each individual differently, depending on the person and their comfort or familiarity with the occurrence. Recently, I conducted an interview with an Extended Care Counselor at Mayfield Junior School. Gina Hakim, has been working at MJS for several years and informed me of one of her personal experiences with an earthquake. Gina Hakim was born and raised in Egypt. ‘’It was hard to see almost all of my neighborhood destroyed’’. On October 12 1992, there was a 6.0 Earthquake in Cairo Egypt. I will be talking to you today about her devastating experience.
Gina was only a few months old when this Earthquake happened, but could remember it like it was yesterday. She said at the time she was at her grandparents apartment in Cairo when her mom carried her into the bath tub and as Gina was about to get out...it happened. Her mom quickly pulled her out with a towel and ran into the hallway to go down stairs. Noticing that the Elevator was not working, Gina’s mom sprinted down the stairs with Gina held tightly in her hands. Making it outside safely, her building did not. Her building was not the only building that was severely damaged.
Over 9,000 buildings were damaged and about 350 buildings sadly collapsed. When Gina heard this news, she felt awful. She felt even worse when 50,000 citizens became homeless because of the quake. 65 people died and at least 400 injured. Luckily, no member of Gina's family was hurt. She was relieved to hear that. The whole town was helping each other get back on their feet.’’Watching the whole town struggle in their lives was difficult to watch’’.
Today, some of the damage still remains. Buildings are still collapsed. Homes are still damaged. People are still homeless. This is a big problem that may or may not be fixed. Another earthquake may occur any day. If another earthquake happens, none of Cairo would be prepared. This is Kenji Swanson coming to you from Cairo Egypt.
-KENJI SWANSON