Death Toll from Earthquake Rises to 10 in Three Districts

The death toll has risen to 10 in the most fatal earthquake the country has seen in decades, with the number of injured exceeding six hundred.

At 10:38 am on Friday, on a holiday morning, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.7 on the Richter scale; the epicenter was in Madhabdi of Narsingdi, near Dhaka.

The 26-second quake initially caused panic, prompting people to rush out of their homes and onto the streets. Soon after, reports of casualties and damage began to emerge.

According to the latest updates, 4 deaths were reported in Dhaka, 5 in Narsingdi, and 1 in Narayanganj.

According to the Dhaka district administration, 59 injured people received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and 13 at Mitford Hospital.

Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said at night that among the injured, five people—including two students of Dhaka University—were undergoing treatment.

In a statement, the district administration also said that several buildings in Dhaka’s Bangshal, Matuail, Khilgaon, Hatirjheel, Kalabagan, and New Market areas, as well as a dormitory of Dhaka College, were reported damaged.

Outside Dhaka, over five hundred people were injured in Gazipur, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj combined.

Gazipur Civil Surgeon Md. Mamunur Rahman said that a total of 400 people were injured in the district. Among them, 86 were admitted to hospitals, 97 received treatment for minor injuries, and 90 received treatment in Tongi.

He further said that 43 ‘critically’ injured individuals were transferred to Dhaka.

Analysts say that this region has experienced earthquakes of magnitude 8 in the past. However, the country has not witnessed such a deadly earthquake in the last few decades.

Geologist Professor Syed Humayun Akhter said, “This earthquake occurred at the junction of two plates, in the Indo-Burma tectonic plate. The tremor intensity was quite high. There has been extensive damage.”

In a statement, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences for the casualties and said that necessary measures would be taken, prioritizing the safety of the people.

Casualty Details

The Fire Service said that bricks and plaster fell from the sidewall and cornice of an 8-storey building in Koshaituli of Armanitola, where there was a beef shop.

Shoppers and pedestrians at the spot were injured. Local residents took them to the hospital before the Fire Service arrived. Doctors declared three of them dead upon arrival.

Bangshal Police Station OC Rafiqul Islam said the deceased were Rafiqul Islam, aged around 22; Haji Abdur Rahim (47); and his son Mehrab Hossain Rimon (12).

Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the Directorate General of Health Services, said that Rafiqul Islam was a second-year student at Sir Salimullah Medical College.

In Mugda, Dhaka, a security guard of an under-construction building died when the railing of the rooftop collapsed.

Mugda Police Station Inspector Md. Asadur Rahman said that Maksud, aged 50, was a security guard of an under-construction building on Wasa Road. During the quake, he was on the rooftop and ran downstairs in fear.

Just after he came outside, the rooftop railing of the same building broke and fell onto a nearby building, from which debris hit his head, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to Mugda Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Besides one death in Narayanganj, the number of deaths in Narsingdi has risen to five.

A ten-month-old child died when a wall collapsed in a building in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.

Rupganj Police Station OC Tariqul Islam said, “The incident occurred on Friday morning in Golakandaile area, injuring the child’s mother and two others.”

The deceased child Fatema was the daughter of Abdul Haque of the area; he runs a business in Dhaka’s Shyambazar.

In Gabtali area of Chinishpur Union in Sadar upazila, bricks fell from the wall of an under-construction building onto the roof of a neighboring house.

The sunshade of the house collapsed, injuring Delwar Hossain Uzzal, his son Md. Omar, and two daughters.

They were first taken to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, where doctors gave primary treatment and sent the father and son to Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to their critical condition.

Doctors declared Omar dead upon arrival. His father, Delwar Hossain, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

Around 6:30 pm, Inspector Md. Faruk of the hospital police camp said he died in the ICU while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, in Malita Pashchimpara village of Palash upazila in Narsingdi, Kazem Ali Bhuiya (75) died when the mud walls of his house collapsed during the quake.

He was first taken to Palash Upazila Health Complex. RM0 Abdullah Al Mamun said he died on the way to Narsingdi District Hospital.

Shibpur Model Police Station OC Md. Afzal Hossain said that during the quake, Forkan Mia (45), son of Sharafat Ali of Azkitola Pashchimpara village, was critically injured after falling from a tree.

He was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where he died.

Additionally, during the earthquake, 65-year-old Nasir Uddin suffered a heart attack in panic. He was the son of the late Siraj Uddin of Kazirchar Nayapara village.

Citing local residents, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Hossain said that Nasir Uddin had a heart attack while running from farmland in fear during the quake. He fell off the road and died instantly; his relatives did not take the body to the hospital.