Two people have been killed and at least 18 injured in an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale in the east of Algeria, the APS news agency said Saturday.
The quake happened at 9:11 pm (2011 GMT) Friday. The injured were from the village of Beni Maouche, in a mountainous region around 60 kilometers (35 miles) west of Bejaia, APS said. Several houses collapsed in the village.
The quake, which was felt in several areas of the capital Algiers, some 260 kilometers (160 miles) away, caused "a massive panic throughout the prefecture" of Bejaia, APS said.
Cracks appeared in several houses in the hamlets of Akbou, Sidi Aich and El Kseur.
Residents of Algiers told the agency they felt "a strong shake" which lasted several seconds -- ALGIERS (AFP)
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