It was a scene from hell: after a massive quake tore through the earth, the desperate cries of women mingled with the harsh wail of ambulance sirens. Blocks of buildings lay in ruins.

Rescue workers struggled to save survivors from the rubble and international aid workers rushed to Algeria today after a powerful earthquake killed at least 643 people and injured thousands.

More than 500 people have died and around 4,600 were injured in the massive Algerian earthquake that shook the area near the capital.

Up to 500 people are now feared dead after a strong earthquake hit Algeria. There are reports that 1,672 people were injured in the quake.

At least 19 people were killed when a strong earthquake shook west-central Mexico sending panicked residents spilling into the streets of major cities and knocking out power to many areas, officials said today.