A devastating magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Bangladesh in the early hours of Friday, causing widespread panic and tragically resulting in at least six fatalities. The United States Geological Survey confirmed the epicenter was situated near Narsingdi, approximately 14 kilometers west-southwest of the town, at a depth of just 10 kilometers. The quake registered at 04:38:26 UTC.
People in Dhaka, the capital, experienced strong ground shaking and fled their homes and offices. Disturbing social media footage captured scenes of tilted structures and citizens seeking safety on the roads. The tremors were not confined to Bangladesh; residents of West Bengal and Assam in India also reported feeling the intense shaking.
Emergency services are actively assessing the damage and searching for any potential survivors or further seismic activity. The full impact of the earthquake is still unfolding, with concerns that the death toll may increase.
Geologically, Bangladesh is positioned on a seismically active zone where the Indian, Eurasian, and Burma tectonic plates converge. This, combined with its proximity to several significant fault lines, makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes. Areas like Chattogram and Sylhet are considered particularly high-risk, and even densely populated Dhaka is identified as one of the world’s most earthquake-vulnerable cities.