DHAKA — A strong earthquake was felt at 10:38 a.m. Friday across various parts of Bangladesh.
The Meteorological Department said the 5.7-magnitude quake was felt in Dhaka and other parts of the country. The epicenter was in Madhabdi, Narsingdi.
It was the country’s largest earthquake in 30 years, Rubayet Kabir, the officer in charge of the Earthquake Research Center, told reporters.
“Today’s earthquake released energy equivalent to a Hiroshima or Nagasaki atomic bomb,” he said.
So far, four people have been confirmed dead in Friday’s quake, including three in Dhaka. A child was also killed in Rupganj, Narayanganj, when a wall collapsed.
More than 100 people have been reported injured, though an exact figure is not yet available, the Fire Service said. Many buildings across Dhaka and other parts of the country have been damaged.
In a Friday afternoon message, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said the country’s overall situation is being closely monitored and all relevant agencies have been ordered to assess potential damage on the ground without delay.
The chief adviser’s message added that the government is taking all necessary steps to give the highest priority to public safety.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report