ALGIERS - At least 18 people died and 312 were injured in traffic accidents during celebrations in Algeria following their World Cup qualifying victory against Egypt, authorities said Friday.

In the most serious single accident following Wednesday's match in Khartoum, which Algeria won 1-0, five people died in the southern district of Ouargla, the civil protection service was quoted as saying in the press.

Following the crucial win, Algerians took to their cars, holding flags while sitting on car bonnets or leaning out of car windows, with drivers hurtling up and down the nation's roads at breakneck speeds, an AFP correspondent reported.

The civil protection also said that 145 people had heart attacks following the match, but no deaths were reported.