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2025 Bangladesh earthquake

Coordinates: 23°53′38″N 90°34′44″E / 23.894°N 90.579°E / 23.894; 90.579
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2025 Bangladesh earthquake
2025 Bangladesh earthquake is located in Bangladesh
2025 Bangladesh earthquake
Dhaka
Dhaka
UTC time2025-11-21 04:38:26
ISC event644658714
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date21 November 2025 (2025-11-21)
Local time10:38:26 BST
Duration26 seconds
MagnitudeML 5.7
Mw 5.5
Depth10.0 km (6 mi)
Epicenter23°53′38″N 90°34′44″E / 23.894°N 90.579°E / 23.894; 90.579
Madhabdi, Narsingdi District, Bangladesh
FaultMadhupur fault[1]
Areas affectedBangladesh
India
Max. intensityMMI VII (Very strong)
AftershocksOne
Casualties10 deaths
606+ injuries

On 21 November 2025, at 10:38:26 BST (UTC+6), a moment magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Dhaka, Bangladesh, as the result of reverse faulting at shallow depth within the Indian plate. At least 10 people were killed and over 600 others suffered injuries.

Tectonic setting

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Much of Bangladesh sits in the Indian and Eurasian plate. The Indian plate converges with Eurasian at a rate of approximately 46 mm/yr towards the north-northeast. The broad convergence between these two plates has resulted in the uplift of the Himalayas, the world's tallest mountain range. The preliminary focal mechanism of the earthquake suggests strike slip faulting, and thus an intraplate source within the upper Eurasian plate or the underlying Indian plate, rather than occurring on the thrust interface plate boundary between the two. This region has experienced relatively moderate seismicity in the past, with 18 earthquakes of M 5 or greater over the past 35 years. The largest of these was a M 6.1 earthquake in November of 1980.[2]

Earthquake

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The earthquake struck at 10:38:26 BST (04:38:26 UTC). It's epicentre was at Madhabdi, 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) southwest from Narsingdi, with a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles). The quake was measured at Mw 5.5 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS),[3] and ML 5.7 by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).[4] The shaking lasted for 26 seconds, according to the BMD.[5] Tremors were also felt in Kolkata and eastern states of India.[5][6] USGS estimated that more then 10 million people in Dhaka and 300 thousands people in Narsingdi felt strong tremor.[7]

According to Bangladeshi earthquake expert Humayun Akhtar, the earthquake was the strongest in the recent history of Bangladesh.[4] According to an official at the Earthquake Research Centre of Bangladesh, the earthquake was strongest in Bangladesh in last thirty years, and released the same amount of energy as the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[8]

A mild aftershock was detected on the next day in Baipayl, between Gazipur and Savar, at 10:36:12 BST by the BMD, which was measured at ML 3.3.[9][10]

Impact

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Bangladesh

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Casualties by Bangladeshi districts
District Deaths Reported injuries
Narsingdi 5 ≥100
Dhaka 4 ≥20
Narayanganj 1 ≥24
Gazipur 0 252
Others 0 210
Total 10 606+

Many people evacuated buildings during and after the earthquake.[11] Several buildings reportedly sustained cracks, had tilted or were damaged by fires throughout the country.[1][12] In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, seven power stations were shut down and electricity generation was disrupted, resulting in rolling blackouts throughout the country.[13][14] Ruptures were directed in the ground in Palash and Ghorashal, near the epicentre.[15]

At least 10 deaths were reported, including five in Narsingdi, four in Dhaka and one in Narayanganj, with over 600 others injured across Bangladesh.[16][17] The Ministry of Health stated in an unofficial briefing that 10 injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, 72 to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, 53 to Sreepur Upazila Health Complex, 45 to Narsingdi District Hospital, and 10 to 100 Bed Hospital for treatment.[18]

Three people died and injuries were reported in the Koshaitoli area of Old Dhaka after a brick-made railing collapsed.[19] Another roof collapse left three people injured in Gabtali. At least five students of Dhaka University were also injured after jumping off their residence hall.[20][21] More than 400 people were injured while fleeing out of buildings, a four-storey building collapsed and a hospital was damaged in Gazipur.[22] A newborn child was killed and two others were injured after a wall collapsed on them in Narayanganj.[23] Six people were injured by collapsed walls in Araihazar.[24] Over 100 people were injured in Narsingdi, directly at the epicenter.[25] At least 85 workers at the Comilla Export Processing Zone were injured or fainted as a result of panic.[26] Reports of damage at the Chief Adviser's Office also arrived to the fire service, but no significant harm was found after inspection.[27]

Dhaka District Administration established an emergency control room to conduct support and relief to affected areas.[28] The Government of Bangladesh also established a control room for help in damage assessments.[29]

A test match between Bangladesh and Ireland at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium was also halted for three minutes due to the earthquake. Spectators panicked and rushed in all directions, while the Irish cricketers moved to the ground for safety.[30][31]

India

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Structures shook and many people evacuated buildings and fled into streets across West Bengal, including in Kolkata[32] and Bidhannagar.[33] A Modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) of III (Weak) was estimated in Basirhat and Balurghat.[3] Tremors were also felt in Berhampore, Krishnanagar, Kalyani and Howrah.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "5.7-magnitude quake rattles Bangladesh; deaths reported, buildings damaged". The Business Standard. 21 November 2025.
  2. ^ "M 6.9 - 43 km NW of Mangan, India". U.S. Geological Survey. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b ANSS. "M 5.5 - 14 km WSW of Narsingdi, Bangladesh 2025". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  4. ^ a b "Tremor felt today was the strongest to date: earthquake expert Humayun Akhtar". Prothom Alo. 21 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b "At least five killed as magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits Bangladesh". Al Jazeera. 21 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Earthquake of magnitude 5.7 strikes Bangladesh". Al Arabiya. Reuters. 21 November 2025.
  7. ^ "শক্তিশালী কম্পন অনুভব করেছেন ঢাকার ১ কোটির বেশি মানুষ: ইউএসজিএস". Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  8. ^ "'দেশে ৩০ বছরের মধ্যে সবচেয়ে বড় ভূমিকম্প, শক্তি হিরোশিমা বোমার সমান'". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 21 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Earthquake of magnitude 3.3 hits Dhaka's Baipayl". Prothom Alo. 22 November 2025.
  10. ^ Report, Star Online (22 November 2025). "3.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Gazipur's Baipail". The Daily Star. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Powerful earthquake jolts Dhaka, some parts of Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 21 November 2025.
  12. ^ "5.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Bangladesh". The Business Standard. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  13. ^ "7 power plants shut down nationwide after earthquake". Dhaka Tribune. 21 November 2025.
  14. ^ "ভূমিকম্প: বিভিন্ন স্থানে বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন বিঘ্নিত". bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 21 November 2025.
  15. ^ Debnath, Pranab Kumar (22 November 2025). [Cracks on ground in Narsingdi as buildings sway near epicenter "Cracks on ground in Narsingdi as buildings sway near epicenter"]. Prothom Alo. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  16. ^ "পাঁচ দশমিক সাত মাত্রার ভূমিকম্পে যে পরিমাণ ক্ষতির তথ্য পাওয়া গেলো" [The extent of damage reported in the 5.7 magnitude earthquake] (in Bengali). BBC Bangla. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  17. ^ "ভূমিকম্পে নিহতের সংখ্যা বেড়ে ১০, আহত ছয় শতাধিক". Jugantor. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  18. ^ "ভূমিকম্পে নিহত বেড়ে ৬, আহত শতাধিক" [Earthquake death toll rises to 6, over 100 injured]. Jamuna Television (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Earthquake: Railing collapse in Dhaka's Armanitola leaves 3 dead, several injured". The Daily Star. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  20. ^ "ভূমিকম্পে রাজধানীতে ৩ জন নিহত" [3 killed in earthquake in capital]. Sarabangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  21. ^ "5 DU students injured after jumping from halls in quake panic". Daily Times of Bangladesh. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  22. ^ "Earthquake injures 400 in Gazipur as buildings crack, control rooms opened". Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  23. ^ "ভূমিকম্পে দেয়াল ধসে নবজাতকের মৃত্যু, মাসহ আহত ২". Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Earthquake kills six, injures over 150 across Bangladesh". Banglanews.com. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Earthquake: Over 100 injured in Narsingdi". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  26. ^ "কুমিল্লায় ইপিজেডে ভূমিকম্পের সময় প্যানিক অ্যাটাকে অজ্ঞান ৮০ নারী". Jagonews24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Earthquake: Building damages, fires reported in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajshahi, Chattogram". The Daily Star. 21 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Earthquake: Dhaka dist admin opens emergency control room". Prothom Alo. 21 November 2025.
  29. ^ "ভূমিকম্পের ক্ষয়ক্ষতি নিরূপণে কন্ট্রোল রুম চালু করলো সরকার". Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali).
  30. ^ "Bangladesh vs Ireland Test hit with earthquake; coaching staff rush to field in panic". One Cricket. 21 November 2025.
  31. ^ "ভূমিকম্পে ৩ মিনিট খেলা বন্ধ". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (in Bengali). 21 November 2025.
  32. ^ "Kolkata earthquake: Panic in Kolkata after strong earthquake tremors, people rush out to streets". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  33. ^ "Kolkata and adjoining districts jolted by short, sharp tremors". The Telegraph. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  34. ^ "Earthquake Hits Kolkata, Strong Tremors Felt In Adjoining Areas". ABP Live. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
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