Bangladesh experienced a strong 5.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday morning, with tremors shaking Dhaka and surrounding areas at 10:40 AM local time. The jolts, which lasted nearly 20 seconds, triggered panic as people rushed out of homes and offices. Reports confirm that six people died, largely due to panic and related incidents. Tremors were also felt in parts of West Bengal, India. Authorities have not yet reported major structural damage but are monitoring the situation closely.
Just hours earlier, neighbouring Pakistan registered a 5.2-magnitude earthquake. According to the National Centre for Seismology, its epicenter was 135 km deep, reducing its destructive impact. The tremors were also felt across several regions of Afghanistan.
Experts note that Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and northern India lie in one of the world’s most active seismic zones due to the constant collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. While deep-focus quakes tend to cause less surface damage, shallow quakes in this region can be far more dangerous.
