Bangladesh was shaken on Friday as a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck the central region, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 300. Buildings swayed in the capital, Dhaka, sending residents rushing into the streets in panic.

The quake hit at 10:38 a.m., with its epicenter in Ghorashal, Narsingdi district, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Dhaka. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Two children were among the dead, according to local media. Most fatalities occurred when walls and roofs collapsed. In Dhaka’s old city, three people shopping at a butcher’s shop in Armanitola were killed when a building railing fell. Authorities confirmed they were pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mohammed Arif, a local resident, described the scene: “I heard a loud noise, saw bricks falling, and saw injured people.” Firefighters were dispatched across Dhaka, including to a fire in the Baridhara neighborhood. They also checked buildings reported to be tilting.

Gazipur district, just outside Dhaka, reported 252 hospitalizations. Many of the injured were garment workers. Factories were crowded as workers rushed outside during the quake, triggering stampedes. Television footage showed anxious relatives waiting at hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while some Dhaka University students jumped from dorm windows in fear.

Though northern and southeastern Bangladesh are seismically active due to the India-Eurasia plate boundary, central Bangladesh is less prone to earthquakes. The USGS notes that only 14 quakes of magnitude 5.5 or higher, including two magnitude 6 quakes, have been recorded within 250 kilometers of Friday’s epicenter since 1950.

Experts warn that Bangladesh is vulnerable to higher-magnitude quakes. The country has around 170 million people, and Dhaka alone has 2.1 million buildings. Stronger earthquakes could cause devastating damage. Officials urge improved preparedness measures to protect lives and property.

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