Three Killed After 5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh

Dhaka - At least three people lost their lives and ten others were injured in Bangladesh after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Dhaka and several other parts of the country on Friday.

The fatalities occurred when a brick-built railing from a five-storey building collapsed in the Koshaituli area of Armanitola in Dhaka. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami confirmed that a railing, bamboo scaffolding, and other debris fell on bystanders during the tremor. One of the injured remains in critical condition.

Banshal Police Station Duty Officer Ashish Kumar Ghosh added that three pedestrians were killed in the collapse. Police teams are on-site, and the bodies have been sent to a hospital for identification.

Local reports say the victims were walking along the road at the time of the incident. Two died instantly, and the third succumbed to injuries at Mitford Hospital.

A resident, Imran Hossain, told The Business Standard that a mobile network tower fell from the roof of one building onto another during the quake, causing debris to crash onto people below.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the earthquake’s epicentre was in Madhabdi, Narsingdi district. The morning tremor caused widespread panic, with residents rushing out of their homes. Minor cracks have been reported in various buildings across Dhaka.

The tremors were felt in multiple districts, including Chandpur, Nilphamari, Sitakunda, Sirajganj, Narayanganj, Patuakhali, Bogura, Barisal, and Moulvibazar.

—With inputs from IANS