Staff Reporter:
At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Dhaka and different parts of the country on Friday morning.
The casualties include three pedestrians in Old Dhaka’s Bangshal area, a security guard in Mugda, a child in Narayanganj’s Rupganj, and five others — including a child — in Narsingdi.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), which updated the figure at 8pm on Friday, a total of 606 injured patients received treatment at government hospitals across the country. Of them, 167 have been admitted, while 16 severely injured patients have been referred to other hospitals for further treatment.
Officials believe the actual number of injured is higher, as many victims sought treatment at private hospitals, where admissions continue. These figures have not yet been incorporated into the updated tally.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the tremor, which struck at 10:38am on Friday, had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centred about 13km from Dhaka at a depth of 10km.
The US Geological Survey put the magnitude slightly lower, at 5.5, and located the epicentre about 14km west-southwest of Narsingdi.
Earthquake specialist and retired Dhaka University geologist Prof Humayun Akhtar said the intensity of shaking felt during Friday’s tremor was “the strongest in recent memory”.
