At least five people, including a child, were killed and around 100 injured when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday, the government said, with buildings damaged in many areas, including the densely populated capital Dhaka.
Tremors were felt in the eastern states of neighboring India bordering Bangladesh, but there were no immediate reports of major damage there, according to authorities.
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, said the injured included Dhaka University students, factory workers in the city of Gazipur and residents of Narsingdi, the epicenter of the earthquake.
His statement did not give details about how the five died. Police previously reported that three people had died when the railing of a six-story building collapsed during the earthquake.
Several of the injured taken to hospital from Narsingdi, about 40 km (25 miles) east of Dhaka, were in critical condition, health adviser Nurjahan Begum told reporters.
You may be interested in: Chinese cruise ships seek to avoid Japan amid diplomatic row
Earthquake shakes Bangladesh, leaving five dead and around 100 injured
Dhaka residents ran from their homes as buildings shook and some makeshift structures collapsed, according to Reuters witnesses.
“We felt a strong shaking and the buildings were shaking like trees,” said resident Suman Rahman. “The stairs were jammed as people ran down. Everyone was terrified, the children were crying.”
The fire department reported that some people were injured when bricks and loose cement fell from buildings under construction.
“I have never felt such a tremor in my life. We were in the office when the furniture started shaking. We ran down the street stairs and already saw other people on the street,” said Sadman Sakib, who works in Dhaka.
The government was closely monitoring the situation and had ordered departments to intensify rescue operations in the affected areas, Yunus’ office said in the statement.
With information from Reuters
Do you like photos and news? Follow us on our Instagram
