A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Bangladesh on Friday, killing six people (Source: ANI)
A powerful earthquake hit central Bangladesh on Friday morning with a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale. Local media reported that at least six people have been killed, and many others are injured. The tremors were felt in most parts of West Bengal and northeastern India, sending people scurrying out of buildings in fear.
The earthquake hit around 10:38 am, local time. Its epicentre was in the Ghorashal area of Narsingdi district, some 25 km from Dhaka. According to the data obtained from the US Geological Survey (USGS), the depth of the quake was 10 km.
Initial updates from police confirmed at least three deaths. However, Dhaka-based DBC Television later reported that six people lost their lives in the capital. Reports said that three died after parts of a building roof and wall collapsed, while three others were killed after being struck by falling railings. Several others were injured during the panic that followed the tremor.
Buildings in Dhaka shook strongly, causing widespread panic. Residents ran out of homes, offices, and multi-storey buildings and gathered in open areas due to the fear of aftershocks. Emergency teams began attending to the injured victims across various parts of the city.
While northern and southeastern parts of Bangladesh often have earthquakes from the collision of the India and Eurasia tectonic plates, the central region where Friday’s quake hit is normally less prone to such disasters, according to the USGS.
Strong tremors were also felt in Kolkata and its adjoining districts in India. A number of people ran out into the open as a precautionary measure. The EMSC confirmed that the epicentre of the tremors originated in Bangladesh. According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake occurred 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi at a depth of 10 km at 10.08 am.
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