Quake hits Algeria: 4 killed

About 30 houses collapsed, Algerian news agency APS quoted the authorities as saying, adding that large quantities of rescue materiel had been sent to the affected region.

A radio journalist in Bejaia said those killed were three children aged 5, 9 and 13, and a 26-year-old adult.

The main quake was followed by several aftershocks, forcing people to spend the night outdoors, he added.

The director of Bejaia's health department told the radio that the injured were not seriously hurt, suffering from fractures or shock.

Algerian national radio said the quake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook the Kherrata region at 1944 GMT.

Its epicentre was situated near the town of Kherrata, between Bejaia and Setif (respectively 260 and 300km-- east of the capital).

The tremor was strongly felt in the east of Bejaia region over around 100km, causing panic among the population.