Bangladesh Quake Kills At Least Eight, Injures Hundreds

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

DHAKA (Worthy News) – A strong 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook central Bangladesh on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 300, authorities and local media said, as buildings in the capital Dhaka swayed violently and panicked residents fled into the streets.

The quake struck at 10:38 a.m. local time with an epicenter in the Ghorashal area of Narsingdi district, roughly 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Dhaka. The U.S. Geological Survey said the shallow temblor had a depth of just 10 kilometers (6 miles), magnifying its impact across the densely populated region.

Three people – including two children – were killed in Dhaka’s historic Armanitola neighborhood when railings collapsed as they were shopping at a butcher’s shop, local broadcaster DBC said.

In nearby Gazipur, hundreds of garment-factory workers were injured after they rushed out of swaying buildings in a chaotic stampede.

LOUD NOISE

“I heard a loud noise and saw that some bricks had fallen, and I saw some people injured also,” said Dhaka resident Mohammed Arif, who was near one of the damaged buildings.

Another witness, office worker Sadman Sakib, told the media: “I have never felt such a tremor in my life. Furniture started shaking. We ran down the stairs and saw people already standing in the street.”

Tremors were also felt across the border in India, including in the eastern city of Kolkata, where residents reported light shaking.

Although Bangladesh’s northern and southeastern regions lie closer to major tectonic boundaries, the central area, including Dhaka, remains highly vulnerable due to rapid urbanization and weak construction standards.

NO SAFEGUARDS

Dhaka alone has an estimated 2.1 million buildings, many of them built without adequate seismic safeguards, prompting long-standing concerns among engineers and disaster-risk specialists.

According to U.S. Geological Survey data, only about 14 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater have struck within 250 kilometers of Friday’s epicenter since 1950 — but experts warn that even moderate quakes pose a severe risk in a country with fragile infrastructure and extremely high population density.

Hospitals across Dhaka and surrounding districts treated hundreds of injured people, many hurt by falling debris or during stampedes as buildings shook. Authorities said damage assessments were underway and warned residents to be prepared for possible aftershocks.

Experts say Bangladesh, which has experienced deadly earthquakes in past centuries — including the destructive 1885 Bengal quake — remains at risk of a significant seismic event that could cripple urban centers if building practices are not strengthened.

Officials said the death toll could rise as search and rescue teams continue their assessments and as information from rural and industrial districts is consolidated.

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