Deadly Quake Strikes Central Bangladesh, Leaving 6 Dead

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck central Bangladesh on Friday morning, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more. The tremor shook buildings in the capital Dhaka, sending panicked residents into the streets and highlighting the country's vulnerability to seismic activity despite the central region being less earthquake-prone than other areas.

The earthquake hit at 10:38 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located in the Gazipur district of Narsingdi, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Dhaka. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake's depth at 10 kilometers (6 miles), which is relatively shallow and can amplify ground shaking.

Dhaka-based DBC Television reported that all six confirmed deaths occurred in the capital. Three people died when a building's roof and wall collapsed, while three pedestrians were killed when a building's railing fell on them. The casualties highlight how even moderate earthquakes can prove deadly in densely populated urban areas with aging infrastructure.

Buildings swayed across Dhaka during the tremor, prompting widespread evacuations as people fled to open spaces. The sight of thousands of residents abandoning offices and homes underscores the psychological impact earthquakes have in a region where such events, while not uncommon, remain deeply unsettling.

Bangladesh sits in a seismically complex region where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates interact. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that while northern and southeastern Bangladesh experience regular seismic activity due to these plate interactions, central Bangladesh typically sees less earthquake activity. This makes Friday's event somewhat unusual for the affected area.

The country's location makes it susceptible to earthquakes originating from several sources, including the Himalayan fault system to the north and the highly active seismic zones along Myanmar's border to the east. Past significant earthquakes have caused substantial damage and casualties, making seismic preparedness an ongoing concern for authorities.

Friday's earthquake serves as a reminder that even regions with lower seismic activity can experience damaging tremors. For a country with dense urban populations and infrastructure that varies widely in earthquake resistance, such events pose ongoing challenges for disaster preparedness and building safety standards.