A powerful 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck central Bangladesh on Friday morning, claiming three lives and causing panic across the capital Dhaka, while briefly halting an international cricket match between Bangladesh and Ireland.
Earthquake strikes with devastating consequences
The shallow earthquake, occurring at just 10km depth, hit the Ghorashal area of Narsingdi district approximately 25km from Dhaka, according to the US Geological Survey. The seismic event resulted in three tragic fatalities when building railings collapsed onto pedestrians in the capital.
Dhaka police officer Ashish Kumar Ghosh confirmed that two victims died immediately at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries after being transported to Mitford Hospital. Multiple other individuals sustained injuries from falling debris and structural damage across the city.
Cricket match interrupted by tremors
The ongoing Test match between Bangladesh and Ireland at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur was temporarily suspended as tremors shook the ground. Cricket Ireland took to social media platform X to announce: "Goodness. Play has stopped here due to a minor tremor/earthquake."
Local resident Suman Rahman described the terrifying moments to Reuters: "We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees. Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified, children were crying."
Regional impact and scientific explanation
The earthquake's effects extended beyond Bangladesh's borders, with residents in several Indian cities including Kolkata, Guwahati, Agartala, and Shillong reporting noticeable tremors. Fortunately, no damage was reported in these areas.
Seismologists from the US Geological Survey identified the cause as reverse faulting at a shallow depth within the Indian Plate. This event is particularly noteworthy as central Bangladesh is generally considered more seismically quiet compared to northern and southeastern regions of the country.
Since 1950, only 14 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater have been recorded within 250km of the affected area, including just two magnitude 6 events, highlighting the rarity of such seismic activity in this region.
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours while authorities continue damage assessment. "Everyone is urged to remain alert and not pay attention to any kind of rumours or misinformation," he stated, promising further guidance through official channels if necessary.
