Earthquake in Algeria

An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale killed four people and wounded more than sixty others in the area of Laalam, in the North-East of Algeria. It struck on Monday evening in the Laalam area, the locality of Laalam - in the North-East of Algeria - leaving four dead and 67 wounded according to a provisional report. According to the Algerian Center in astronomy, astrophysics and geophysics (ARCAA), the magnitude was 5.8 on the Richter scale and the earthquake took place at 20h44 local time. Its epicentre was located close to the town of Kherrata, located between Béjaia and Sétif, 300 km to the east of Algiers.

About thirty houses collapsed and civilians and military dispatched provided help at the scene and continued to do so throughout the night. The people killed are three children of 5, 9 and 13 years and a 26 year old adult. Several aftershocks followed the first quake, forcing inhabitants to spend the night outside. The Director of the Health Service in Béjaia - 60km from Laalam - declared in the evening that nobody had been badly injured and and that they had suffered only from fractures or emotional shock. "They have all been given the best of care", he added. Algeria ia often affected by earthquakes as the north of the country is located in a seismic area where the Eurasian and African plates conjoin. Algiers and the surrouding area was hit on May 21, 2003, by a violent seism that left 2300 dead and more than 10 000 wounded.