3 Killed, Dozens Injured in Bangladesh Earthquake

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Narsingdi, Bangladesh, on Friday, killing at least three people and injuring dozens, authorities reported.

The tremor hit at 10:38 a.m. local time, roughly 33 kilometers from Dhaka, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake sent panicked residents fleeing into the streets as buildings swayed violently. Tremors were felt as far away as Kolkata, India, more than 325 kilometers from the epicenter. Among the fatalities was a medical student who fell from an eight-story building in Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, confirmed that emergency services are responding swiftly and that all departments have been deployed to assess potential damage. He emphasized that public safety remains the government’s highest priority.

While northern and southeastern Bangladesh are known for seismic activity due to tectonic plate interactions, the central region, including Dhaka, is typically less affected.