Quake Causes Panic, Damages Homes in Eastern Algeria

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed from 7pm-7am to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed from 7pm-7am to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
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Quake Causes Panic, Damages Homes in Eastern Algeria

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed from 7pm-7am to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed from 7pm-7am to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake hit eastern Algeria on Friday, toppling three houses, damaging others and sending panicked people rushing into the streets but there were no reports of casualties, the civil protection service said.

The quake, which was followed by a 4.5 aftershock, hit Mila province, some 350 km east of the capital Algiers, Reuters reported.

Three homes, including a four-story villa completely collapsed while 31 other apartments partially collapsed, civil protection said.

The quake also caused cracks in other homes and a road had to be closed as a result of the damage, Reuters quoted it as saying.

In 2003, an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 hit the capital and nearby areas, killing 2,000 people.



Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
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Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)

Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed Sunday in an Israeli strike on the country's south, as Israel said it hit Hezbollah operatives amid a fragile truce.

The toll in the "strike launched by the Israeli enemy on the town of Zibqin rose to two dead", the health ministry said in a statement, adding that the toll was final after earlier reporting one dead.

The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike targeting two Hezbollah operatives in the Zibqin area, adding in a statement that they were "attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites".

A fragile ceasefire in late November largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon.

The latest raid came after visiting US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus discussed the situation in south Lebanon with senior officials on Saturday.

On Friday, Israel killed a commander of Palestinian group Hamas in a pre-dawn raid in the south Lebanese port city of Sidon that also killed his adult son and daughter.

A day earlier, Israel's military said it carried out an air strike targeting a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israel struck south Beirut, killing a Hezbollah Palestinian liaison officer, in only the second raid on the capital since the November 27 ceasefire.

Lebanon's health ministry reported four dead in that strike, including a woman.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to redeploy its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel was to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic".