4.8-magnitude quake rocks west Algeria

An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the open-ended Richter scale hit the Ain Defla region, about 150 kilometres west of Algiers.

ALGIERS, November 2, 2009 (AFP) - An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the open-ended Richter scale hit the Ain Defla region, about 150 kilometres west of Algiers, Monday, seismologists said.

The epicentre was located about 11 kilometres (seven miles) northeast of the town of El Abadia in the region, the Algerian geological service CRAAG said.

There were no immediate reports of casualities or property damage.