An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Eastern Algeria Thursday, according to the Algerian Civil Defense.

The Algerian Civil Protection Department said in a statement that it "reassures the citizens that there will be neither loss of life nor significant material damage."

The American Institute stated that the earthquake occurred 20 kilometers northeast of the city of Bejaia.

Residents ran to the streets, according to testimonies posted on social media.

Doctor Leila, who lives and works in the large coastal city in the Kabylie region with a population of 160,000, wrote, "My Lord conceal the house. The house really shook and there was a noise. Now the neighbors are very scared outside."

She  added that "the earth was shaking and seagulls were flying over our heads, shouting loudly (...) We were very afraid."

Images circulated on social media showed dilapidated interior walls.

The Civil Protection reported a "partial collapse of three old uninhabited buildings" in Bejaia. In Jijel, about 50 kilometers east of Bejaia, "five people suffered fractures or sprains due to the state of panic," according to the Civil Protection, which stated that "one of them jumped from the first floor and was taken to hospital."

The Bejaia Info website published pictures of cracked houses and rubble in the streets. "Material damage, but no loss of life," he wrote.

The quake was felt in the Algerian capital, 250 km west of Bejaia, as well as in the city of Annaba, 350 km to the east, near the Tunisian border.