Algeria: Earthquake - Dec 1999

On 22 December 1999 at 18:37 hours local time, an earthquake hit northwest Algeria. The earthquake measured between 5.2-5.5 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was situated at latitude 35.17 degrees north and longitude 1.22 degrees west, in the mountains of Tessala. As of 23 December, 22 people were confirmed dead. OCHA, 23 Dec 1999 Approxamitly 3,000 houses were destroyed and 5,000 families (about 25,000 persons) were affected. OCHA, 28 Dec 1999