Earthquake injures 400 in Gazipur as buildings crack, control rooms opened

Most injuries occur as people rush out of offices and factories during the tremor

At least 400 people have been injured in Gazipur after rushing out of buildings during an earthquake, most of them reported to be workers.

The tremor occurred at 10:38am on Friday, with its epicentre in Narshingdi’s Madhabdi, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Seismology Centre.

Gazipur residents rushed out of homes, offices, and factories as buildings shook for several seconds.

Civil Surgeon Md Mamunur Rahman said a total of 400 people were injured in the district.

Among them, 86 were admitted to hospitals, 97 received minor treatment, and 90 were treated in Tongi.

At least 43 seriously injured patients were transferred to Dhaka.

Patients are still being treated in hospitals across Sreepur, Kaliakair, Kapasia, and Gazipur Sadar.

Md Mamun, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said several workers were injured at Hasan Tanvir Fashion Wears Limited in Gazipur Chowrasta.

At Denimac Garment in Sreepur, over 100 workers were hurt, he added.

A four-storey building collapsed in Ward No. 24, Chakulia. Cracks also appeared in the Gazipur Press Club building.

Md Aminul Islam, director of Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College Hospital, said 82 injured patients arrived, of whom 55 were admitted.

Most injuries occurred from running and panic. Cracks were observed in part of the hospital’s old ward building.