A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Bangladesh near the capital Dhaka, killing at least five people and injuring over 450, causing widespread panic and damage across the region. The epicenter was located in the Narsingdi district, approximately 30 kilometers from Dhaka, and tremors were felt as far as eastern India, though no major damage was reported there.
The earthquake hit on Friday, prompting immediate evacuations as buildings shook and makeshift structures collapsed. In Dhaka’s Armanitola area, three people died when debris fell from a five-storey building, while a stampede at Dhaka University injured at least 10 students. Authorities reported a total of 461 injuries nationwide, with the Gazipur district north of Dhaka accounting for 252 of those cases.
Response efforts are currently focused on assessing casualties and structural damage, with officials noting that extensive rescue operations from rubble are not yet necessary. Nitai Chandra De Sarkar, director of the monitoring division, emphasized that the priority is evaluation and providing medical aid to the injured. The earthquake’s intensity surprised many residents, with environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan describing it as the most powerful in Bangladesh in the last five years.
Eyewitness accounts vividly captured the chaos and fear. One office worker reported feeling the strongest tremor in 30 years, leading to a swift evacuation to the streets. A student sleeping at the time awoke to the entire building shaking, highlighting the suddenness of the event. The earthquake also temporarily interrupted a cricket test match between Ireland and Bangladesh, pausing play for three minutes as players and spectators took precautionary measures.
The regional impact extended to eastern Indian states like Kolkata, where tremors were felt but caused no significant harm. This event underscores the seismic risks in densely populated areas like Dhaka, raising concerns about earthquake preparedness and infrastructure resilience. Authorities are monitoring for potential aftershocks and conducting structural assessments to prevent further incidents.
In the broader context, this earthquake adds to a series of recent seismic events in Asia, following quakes in Afghanistan and the Philippines. It highlights the ongoing vulnerability of regions prone to natural disasters and the importance of robust disaster management strategies. Recovery efforts are underway, with a focus on aiding the injured and evaluating long-term safety measures.
Overall, the Bangladesh earthquake has resulted in significant human and structural impacts, with lessons likely to inform future preparedness initiatives in the region.
