Yet another earthquake jolts Bangladesh

An earthquake was felt again in the country. On Thursday (June 18), a mild to moderate earthquake was felt in different parts of the country at 9:29pm. Many people were panicked by the sudden tremor. However, no casualties or major damage were immediately reported.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.4 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was in the Indian state of Manipur, which is located about 361 kilometers northeast of the Dhaka Meteorological Office. Since the depth of the earthquake was relatively shallow, its tremors were felt in different parts of the country apart from the border areas.

Residents of various regions including the capital Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Comilla and Chittagong reported feeling the earthquake on social media. Since it was night time, many people were frightened by the sudden tremor. Anxiety is especially high among residents of multi-storey buildings.

Earthquakes have been felt in Bangladesh more than once this month. Earlier, an earthquake was felt in various parts of the country at 9:40 pm on June 11. According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), the epicenter of the earthquake was in the Silchar region of India, which is located near the Karimganj border of Sylhet. At that time, tremors were also felt in several areas, including the northeastern part of the country.

A few days earlier, a strong earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale shook almost all parts of the country at 11:37 pm on June 7. The epicenter of the earthquake was Bhutan. Due to its relatively high magnitude, its tremors were clearly felt in various districts of the country and many people came out of their homes in panic.

Geologists say that since Bangladesh is located near an earthquake-prone region, the impact of earthquakes in various regions of neighboring countries is often felt in the country. Especially earthquakes in India, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan can affect Bangladesh. Many people are concerned because multiple earthquakes have been felt in short intervals in recent times.

Experts believe that although it is not possible to prevent earthquakes, the risk of damage can be greatly reduced by increasing awareness, disaster preparedness, and building earthquake-resistant infrastructure. Therefore, they have advised the relevant authorities to strengthen preparedness in addition to increasing public awareness about what to do during an earthquake.