DHAKA, Bangladesh: At least five people, including a child, were killed and around 100 injured after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday, authorities said. The tremors damaged buildings across multiple areas, including the densely populated capital Dhaka.
Read More: Earthquake tremors felt in Gwadar, Turbat
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, said the injured included students from Dhaka University, factory workers in Gazipur, and residents of Narsingdi, the epicenter of the earthquake, about 40 km east of Dhaka. Some victims were reported to be in critical condition. Police earlier reported three fatalities when a building railing collapsed.
Residents described panicked scenes as buildings shook violently. “We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees,” said Suman Rahman, a Dhaka resident. Children were crying and staircases were jammed as people rushed out of buildings. Loose bricks and cement from construction sites caused additional injuries, the fire department said.
Tremors were also felt in bordering eastern states of India, but there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties there. The Bangladeshi government has ordered intensified rescue operations and is closely monitoring the affected areas.
Read More: 20 dead as powerful earthquake jolts Afghanistan
Officials urged people to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols as aftershocks were expected. Emergency services continued to assess structural damage and assist the injured in hospitals across Dhaka and nearby districts.