Earthquake: 5 dead, more than 150 in epicentre Narsingdi

At least five people died and more than 150 were injured in Narsingdi when a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday morning. 

The epicentre of the quake was located at Madhabdi in Narsingdi, 13km east of the BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon in Dhaka.

However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the epicentre was located 14 kilometres west-southwest of Narsingdi, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The earthquake at 10:38am had a duration of nearly 25 seconds.

According to locals, bricks fell from an under-construction seven-storey building at the Gabtoli area of Narsingdi Sadar Upazila and hit three people. Two of them were identified as Delowar Hossain, 37, and his son Omor Faruq, 8. After they were taken to the hospital, the father-son duo succumbed to their injuries. 

Kajom Ali Bhuiyan, 70, of Malita Village in Palash Upazila, died after a mud hut collapsed on him. Two others who died during the earthquake were Nasir Uddin, 50, of Danga village in Palash Upazila, and Furkan Miah, 42, of Ajkitola village in Shibpur Upazila. 

Confirming the matter, Shibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Yasmin said at least 150 people took treatment at Sadar Hospital and Zila Hospital. Among them, at least 55 people were admitted for better treatment. 

Many buildings in Narsingdi city developed cracks during the earthquake. 

A fire broke out at a substation at the Ghorashal 950MW Thermal Power Station. Power supply remains halted as there were extensive damages from the fire. 

Confirming the matter, Palash Fire Service Station Senior Station Officer Md Abdus Shahid confirmed the matter. He said that two units brought the fire under control within 30 minutes.

The old rail bridge over the Shitalakhya River also developed cracks.