Three dead in Bangladesh after 5.5-magnitude earthquake, tremors felt in India

Eyewitnesses described chaos as masonry fell from an eight-story building, injuring people on the road below.

"Many people had gathered at the butcher" when the rubble fell, said Sakib Hossain, 50, who rushed out after hearing a loud bang.

"I saw vans carrying injured people," he added.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) warned of potentially “significant casualties” and damage.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus said the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety and had deployed emergency teams across the country.

"The government is taking all necessary measures, giving the utmost importance to the safety of the people," interim leader Muhammad Yunus said in a statement.

The shaking lasted for 26 seconds with its epicentre in Narsingdi's Madhabdi district, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, which recorded the magnitude as 5.7.

"The situation is being closely monitored, and all relevant departments have been directed to immediately go to the field to assess any possible damages," Yunus said.

Strong tremors from the quake were also felt in several Northeastern states of India, including Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, as well as in West Bengal and as far as Kolkata, over 325 km from the epicentre.

Disaster Management officials reported no casualties or property damage in India. Residents described sudden jolts that caused panic in offices and homes.

Friday’s tremor marks the fifth earthquake in the Northeastern region this week and the 18th recorded in November, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

The Northeastern states of India lie in one of the world’s six most earthquake-prone zones.

Mild to moderate tremors are common, prompting authorities to urge builders to adopt earthquake-resistant construction practices.

Past quakes in Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya have heightened public awareness and emergency preparedness.