Twenty killed, tens wounded in Algerian earthquake

Algerian television broadcast on Wednesday that an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit on Wednesday night in western Algeria and resulted according to preliminary estimates in the death of 20 persons, wounding tens and causing material losses in Ain Temouchent, 450 KM west of the capital.

The TV reported that the center of the earthquake was in the mountains of al-Tasalleh, which adjoin Ain Temouchent and Sidi Bel Abbes provinces, and that several old houses have collapsed.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika asked Minister of the Interior Abdelmalik Sellal to " take necessary measures" to help the victims.

In Strasbourg, the French national monitor said that the center of the earthquake which hit Algeria is in the Oran district, noting that a similar earthquake of the same grade hit the same area in August 18, 1994 and then resulted in killing 172 persons, wounding 300 and leaving 10,000 people homeless.