In brief
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh, near Dhaka, leading to the death of at least five individuals, including a child, and injuring over 450 others. The quake caused significant panic, prompting evacuations from buildings, with reports of injuries during a stampede at Dhaka University. Authorities are focused on assessing damages and casualties while residents expressed shock at the quake's intensity. Tremors were also felt in nearby Indian states. The earthquake briefly interrupted a cricket match involving Ireland.
A devastating 5.5 magnitude earthquake has hit Bangladesh, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 450 injuries. The epicenter of the quake was close to the Narsingdi district, approximately 30 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka.
As buildings shook and makeshift structures collapsed, people fled residential areas in panic. Notably, at Dhaka University, at least ten students were hurt in a stampede amidst the chaos.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an environmental adviser, remarked, We have never experienced an earthquake this powerful in the last five years.\
The deputy police commissioner, Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami, reported that three fatalities occurred when debris fell from a five-story building in the Armanitola area of Dhaka. Furthermore, Nitai Chandra De Sarkar indicated that among the 461 injured nationwide, 252 were from the Gazipur district, north of Dhaka.
Sarker stated, Our main task at the moment is to assess casualties and damage. We are not yet seeing the challenge of rescue from the rubble or debris management at that level. Witness accounts detailed significant shaking, with Bengali Sadman Sakib expressing disbelief at the tremors felt after 30 years of life in Bangladesh.
In response to the earthquake, activities were halted in various sectors, including a cricket match involving Ireland interrupted briefly due to safety concerns, demonstrating the widespread impact of the disaster.
While tremors were felt in eastern Indian states, reports indicate no significant damage in those areas. The stark reality of natural disasters continues to underscore the urgency of preparedness and response strategies in vulnerable regions like Bangladesh.
