Seismic Risk and Urbanization: The Notion of Prevention. Case of the City of Algiers

Seismic risk is among the major risks that threaten our country. Algiers is considered the most vulnerable city of the country. Not only, it bears witness to terrible seismic disasters but it is based on six seismic faults that can move at any time. Added to this phenomenon, Algiers is facing extreme urban mutation and the urbanization process since independence has not taken seriously into account the seismic risk factor. The present communication has not the pretention to explore the whole question of the seismic risk of the city of Algiers, but debates the question of the risk under the angle of prevention.