5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh, Tremors Felt in Kolkata and Eastern India
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Bangladesh near Dhaka; mild tremors felt in Kolkata and parts of eastern India. No casualties reported, authorities urge caution.
Mild tremors felt in Kolkata after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh; residents shared videos of swaying fans and evacuated buildings.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, and the vibrations traveled to East India, especially in the city of Kolkata, where slight tremors were felt. The epicenter of the quake, as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was 14 km away from Dhaka; meanwhile, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the event at 10.08 AM IST, and it was approximately 10 km east-southeast of Dhaka.
The people of Kolkata and the environment nearby felt a minor shaking, and there were movements of fans and wall hangings reported during the earthquake, which led many to share their experiences through videos and images on social media of them evacuating the places they were in for safety.
Dr. Tapas Pramanick (R G Kar Medical College) "Across the city, including the busy Salt Lake IT area, strong tremors were felt. Buildings were evacuated as a safety measure. Reports of damage are not yet widespread but authorities are advising people to be vigilant and not to use the lifts. Keep safe, Kolkata. 🌍⚠️ #Earthquake #Kolkata #SaltLake"
Tremors spread out of Kolkata to the districts of Cooch Behar, Dakshin, and Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal. The eastern states of Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram were also mildly affected by shaking.
There have been no reports so far regarding injuries or destruction of properties. The authorities are still observing the situation closely and are recommending people to exercise caution.
Seismic Activity in the Region
The zone of South Asia which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Northern India's part is subjected to great seismic activities as it is on the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Earthquakes like the one on Friday, which were very shallow, can cause an extremely wide area to feel tremors as they may even be perceived in distant places due to the existence of fault lines.
On the day prior, Pakistan experienced a 3.9-magnitude earthquake at a very shallow depth of 10 km, thereby repeatedly illustrating the area's susceptibility to earthquakes.
