5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh: Tremors Felt Across Eastern India and Kolkata

Strong tremors were felt in Kolkata and other parts of eastern India on Friday morning after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck in Bangladesh. The epicentre of the quake that occurred at 10.08 am (IST) was 10 kilometres east-southeast from Dhaka in Bangladesh, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

Dhaka-based DBC Television reported that at least six people died in Bangladesh's capital, including three from the collapse of a building roof and a wall and three pedestrians when building railings fell on them in Dhaka.

Residents of Kolkata and surrounding areas experienced mild tremors, noticing fans and wall hangings swaying slightly during the seismic event.

People in Kolkata and neighboring regions shared their experiences on social media, posting visuals of residents evacuating their homes and offices when the tremors affected the area.

Strong tremors felt across parts of Kolkata, including the Salt Lake IT sector. Employees evacuated buildings as precaution. No major damage reported yet, but authorities urge people to stay alert and avoid using elevators. Stay safe, Kolkata. 🌍⚠️ #Earthquake #Kolkata #SaltLake

They also documented the moment when the earthquake struck, with footage showing oscillating fans and wall fixtures.

Earthquake of 5.2 magnitude at Kolkata #Earthquake #Kolkata #Westbengal

The seismic activity was also detected in other regions of West Bengal, including Dakshin and Uttar Dinajpur and Cooch Behar, as well as neighboring states such as Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Currently, there are no reports of injuries or casualties in India related to this earthquake.

Pakistan Earthquake

A separate earthquake of magnitude 3.9 hit Pakistan on Thursday, according to a statement from the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

The statement indicated that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km, making it potentially vulnerable to aftershocks.

Shallow earthquakes generally pose more danger than deep earthquakes because the seismic waves travel a shorter distance to reach the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking, potentially greater structural damage, and higher risk of casualties.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India are situated in one of the world's most seismically active regions, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The area frequently experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, often felt across national boundaries due to the proximity of fault lines.