A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh Friday morning, sending mild tremors across Kolkata and other parts of eastern India. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported the epicenter was located 10 kilometers east-southeast of Dhaka, with the quake occurring at 10:08 AM IST.
Widespread Impact Across Eastern States
Residents in Kolkata and adjoining areas reported feeling mild tremors, with fans and wall hangings swaying during the seismic event. Tremors were also detected in other West Bengal districts including Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur, and Cooch Behar, as well as neighboring states Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Precautionary Evacuations
Social media videos showed residents evacuating homes and offices when tremors hit. Dr. Tapas Pramanick shared footage from Kolkata’s Salt Lake IT sector: “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.”
Other videos documented swinging fans and wall fixtures during the earthquake’s peak intensity.
No Casualties Reported
Authorities confirmed no injuries or casualties from the earthquake thus far, though details continue emerging. The relatively moderate magnitude and depth limited structural damage despite the wide geographical area affected.
Regional Seismic Context
The earthquake follows a separate 3.9-magnitude tremor that struck Pakistan Thursday at a shallow 10-kilometer depth, according to NCS. Shallow earthquakes pose greater dangers than deeper ones, as seismic waves travel shorter distances to the surface, producing stronger ground shaking with increased potential for structural damage and casualties.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India occupy one of the world’s most seismically active zones, where Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The region frequently experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, with tremors often felt across borders due to proximate fault lines.
Geological Vulnerability
The convergence of tectonic plates creates persistent seismic risks throughout South Asia. Friday’s Bangladesh earthquake underscores the region’s geological vulnerability, with densely populated urban centers like Kolkata and Dhaka particularly exposed to earthquake impacts.
Authorities continue monitoring seismic activity while advising residents in affected areas to remain alert for potential aftershocks, which commonly follow significant earthquake events in tectonically active regions.
