Algeria says no deaths from powerful quake in neighboring Morocco

By Hassan Djebril

ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) – Algeria said Saturday it had not registered any fatalities from a powerful earthquake that struck neighboring Morocco.

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake jolted Morocco late Friday, killing at least 820 people and injuring 672 others, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake, which hit just after 11 p.m. local time (22:00 GMT), was 75 kilometers (46.6 miles) southeast of Marrakech, at a depth of 18.5 km.

In a statement, the Algerian Civil Protection Directorate said the tremor was felt in some states in western Algeria.

“No losses were reported from the tremor,” it added.

In 2004, more than 600 people were killed and many others injured when a magnitude 6.3 quake hit northeastern Morocco.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi