Algeria's Blida province recorded an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale on Friday morning at 08:30 local time, according to a statement from the Research Centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics (CRAAG).
The tremor struck near Oued Djer in Blida province, an area that has experienced several tremors and recurrent seismic activity in the past.
The quake comes as various parts of Algeria have recorded seismic activity since the beginning of the year.
Blida province, like many areas in northern Algeria, has experienced strong earthquakes throughout its history, most notably the 1825 Blida earthquake, which caused widespread destruction and heavy loss of life.
Algeria was also hit in 1980 by the El Asnam earthquake, which measured around 7.3 on the Richter scale and struck the Chlef region, causing heavy losses. In 2003, the country was struck by the devastating Boumerdes earthquake, which measured 6.8 and was felt by residents of large parts of the north, including Blida province.
Northern Algeria, particularly the coastal areas along the Mediterranean, is characterised by frequent seismic activity, with tremors of varying intensity, from light to moderate, recorded from time to time.
