Eastern Algeria experienced a minor jolt today, with a 2.3 magnitude earthquake hitting the province of Guelma, located about 500 kilometers east of the Algerian capital.
The Algerian Civil Defense (Protection Civile), in its official post on Facebook, pinpointed the epicenter of the tremor 3 kilometers northeast of the Ben Djerrah area. Fortunately, no damages or losses were reported as a result of the seismic activity.
Amidst the geological activity, the National Meteorological Office of Algeria issued a weather alert forecasting significant climatic shifts. Several provinces are expected to witness rainfall in the upcoming hours, at times accompanied by thunderstorms and hail.
Provinces classified under an “orange” alert level for this weather shift include Souk Ahras, Tipaza, Béni Abbès, as well as Oum El Bouaghi, Tebessa, Guelma, Tindouf, Tlemcen, Constantine, El Bayadh, Naama, Blida, and Bechar. The predicted rainfall amounts for these regions range between 20 to 40 millimeters.
Other provinces like Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, Annaba, El Taref, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Setif, Mila, Constantine, Guelma, Oum El Bouaghi, and Souk Ahras are set to experience similar thunderstorm conditions, with wind gusts and rainfall measurements also projected between 20 to 40 millimeters.
Furthermore, on the opposite weather spectrum, a heatwave alert has been triggered by the Gendarmerie services. Some provinces are bracing for record-breaking temperatures that could range from 39 to 41 degrees Celsius during Saturday and potentially exceeding 43 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The affected provinces include Boumerdès, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, Annaba, and El Taref.
This combination of seismic and meteorological events highlights the diverse natural challenges the region faces, underscoring the need for preparedness and swift response mechanisms.
