A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Algeria on Sunday, according to the Center for Research in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics. The powerful seismic tremor hit the region at 8:11 pm local time, which was 1911 GMT, as officially announced. Its epicenter was pinpointed around 10 kilometers southeast of the town of Negrine, located within the Tebessa province.
The Civil Protection Department said that no casualties or major material damage have been recorded in the area so far. Rescue and thorough assessment operations are currently underway in the affected area, seeking to confirm the situation on the ground.
Algeria has suffered a number of devastating earthquakes throughout its history, with many causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The 1954 Chlef earthquake, measuring a formidable 6.7 in magnitude, resulted in over 1,243 fatalities and widespread destruction.
Another powerful quake struck Chlef in 1980, registering a massive 7.3 magnitude and killing at least 2,633 people. In 2003, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Boumerdes province, which killed more than 1,300 people and caused massive infrastructure damage.