A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck central Bangladesh on Friday, killing at least six people, including two children, and injuring several hundred, officials said.
Three people in Old Dhaka’s Kasaituli area died when a brick-built rooftop railing collapsed. Two others were killed in Narsingdi, including a 10-year-old boy and a 75-year-old man, while a 10-month-old girl died in Narayanganj after a wall fell on her.
The epicentre was in Madhabdi of Narsingdi, about 25 kilometers from Dhaka.
Scientists said the quake resulted from shallow reverse faulting within the Indian plate. Focal mechanism data indicate rupture on either an east-striking, moderately dipping fault or a west-northwest striking, moderately dipping fault.
Hospitals in Dhaka and nearby districts were overwhelmed as patients rushed in. Dhaka Medical College Hospital reported 41 arrivals by midafternoon. In Gazipur, at least 100 factory workers were injured while fleeing buildings.
Significant earthquakes in central Bangladesh are uncommon.
Since 1950, only 14 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater, including two magnitude 6 events, have occurred within 250 kilometers of the epicentre, helping explain the widespread panic triggered by the tremor.
Correction: A previous article erroneously stated it was Thursday when in fact it was Friday when the quake struck.