Algeria: Earthquake rattles coastal Bejaia, seven people injured

Posted On 18 March 2021

Number of times this article was read : 144

Seven people wounded

(NAJ – 18 March 2021) – Residents of Bejaia spent a good part of the night from Wednesday to Thursday outside. The earthquake, which was felt within a radius of 300 km, was felt in 12 provinces. Seven people living in old buildings in Bejaia were injured.
Northern Algeria is a region that experiences strong seismic activity. In October 1980, thousands died in the Al Asnam (now Chlef) quake and in Boumerdès in May 2003. They were respectively. 7.3 degrees magnitude and 6.8 degrees.

A shallow 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the Algerian coast on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said. The quake hit 20 kilometres north-east of the city of Bejaia at 1:04 am local time (0004 GMT), at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the US monitoring service.  Bejaia, which has a population of roughly 164,000, endured moderate shaking, USGS said. The capital city Algiers also felt some light shaking.

In the aftermath of the 6.0-magnitude quake USGS reported two further quakes in the same area, of 5.2 and 4.7 magnitude respectively. In Bejaia the General Directorate of Algerian Civil Protection reported some instances of panic as residents fled their homes.

They also said there was some damage, including cracks in the walls of residences as well as the partial collapse of an old unoccupied building. There have been no reports yet of serious injuries or casualties.  Photographs shared on social media also appeared to show some damage, with interior walls fractured and images of crumbled walls.

AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Sahel: Burkina Faso’s Goudebou Camp reopens for Malian refugeesRepression: How the Egyptian army destroyed the Sinai in the name of the “war on terror” >>
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine Augier exposes how multinationals like Lafarge navigate ethics and profit in conflict zones, raising questions on global accountability.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This