Moderate earthquake rattles northern Algeria, days after similar quake kills two

ALGIERS (BNO NEWS) -- A moderate earthquake shook northern Algeria on Sunday morning, just two days after a similar earthquake killed two people and injured dozens more.

The 4.8-magnitude earthquake at 7.52 a.m. local time (6.52 GMT) was centered about 128 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Blida, the capital city of Blida Province. It struck about 10.1 kilometers (6.3 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake followed a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on Friday afternoon, centered about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north of Melouza.

State media reported on Friday that at least two people had been killed as a result of the tremor, including an elderly man. The elderly man was killed during panic that was caused by the collapse of a wall at a mosque.

At least 43 others were hospitalized, but half of them had left the hospital several hours after the earthquake.

There was no immediate word on damage or casualties after the Sunday morning earthquake.

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