What Happened After a 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Struck Bangladesh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three fatalities reported due to the earthquake.
- Approximately ten injuries confirmed in Dhaka.
- A mobile tower collapse contributed to the casualties.
- Minor structural damages were noted across several districts.
- Residents experienced significant panic during the tremors.
Dhaka, Nov 21 (NationPress) Tragically, at least three individuals lost their lives and around ten others sustained injuries in Bangladesh when a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook the capital Dhaka and other regions of the country on Friday.
The fatalities occurred when a brick railing collapsed from a five-storey structure in the Koshaituli neighborhood of Armanitola in Dhaka due to the quake.
Deputy Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Lalbagh Division confirmed the incident, stating, "The fire service and civil defense rescue teams have reported that at least three people have died after debris, bamboo scaffolding, and a railing fell on bystanders from a five-storey building at Armanitola's Kosaituli. One individual is in critical condition."
Duty Officer Ashish Kumar Ghosh from Banshal Police Station remarked, "Three pedestrians lost their lives due to the building's railing collapsing during the earthquake. Our team is currently on-site. The deceased have been transported to the hospital, but we have yet to identify the others."
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the victims were walking along the road when the collapse occurred. Two of the victims died instantly, while another succumbed to their injuries at Mitford Hospital in Dhaka.
After the earthquake struck, a mobile network tower from a building's roof fell onto another structure. A local named Imran Hossain described how the tower landed on balconies, resulting in debris falling on residents and causing the casualties, as reported by Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Business Standard.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) noted that the earthquake occurred in the morning, with its epicenter located in Madhabdi, Narsingdi district, inciting widespread panic.
As the ground trembled for several seconds, numerous residents of Dhaka rushed out of their homes in fear.
Reports of minor structural damage have emerged from various neighborhoods in the city following the quake.
The tremors were felt across several districts in Bangladesh, including Chandpur, Nilphamari, Sitakunda, Sirajganj, Narayanganj, Patuakhali, Bogura, Barisal, and Moulvibazar.