At least five people have been killed, including one child, and more than 450 injured after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit Bangladesh.
The earthquake's epicenter was close to the Narsingdi district, about 30 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka.
Upon feeling the tremors, many rushed from residential buildings, with makeshift structures collapsing in the chaos. Reports indicate that at least 10 students were injured in a stampede while trying to exit Dhaka University on Friday.
Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan noted, We have never experienced an earthquake this powerful in the last five years.
In the Armanitola area of Dhaka, at least three people were killed by falling debris from a five-storey building, as confirmed by deputy police commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami. Injuries were reported across the country, with 252 cases in the Gazipur district alone.
Nitai Chandra De Sarkar, director of the monitoring division, stated, Our main task at the moment is to assess casualties and damage. We are not yet seeing the challenge of rescue from the rubble or debris management at that level. Eyewitness accounts reflect the disbelief and shock among residents, with many recalling the chaos as they fled.
Tremors were also felt in eastern Indian states bordering Bangladesh, although no major damage was reported there. The earthquake even interrupted a cricket match in Bangladesh, with players and spectators taking shelter before resuming after a brief halt.
In the wake of the disaster, there's an urgent need for aid and rebuilding efforts as communities begin to recover from this catastrophic event.
