Earthquake shakes Dhaka during Bangladesh-Ireland Test: Details here
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Bangladesh and India, including Kolkata and Guwahati, during the morning session of the third day of the ongoing second Test between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka. While local media reported the magnitude as 5.5, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department mentioned it as 5.7. The tremors caused panic among spectators at Shere Bangla National Stadium, prompting players and umpires to rush toward the pitch for safety.
Spectators and players evacuate stadium
The earthquake struck at around 10:38am local time (10:08am in India), forcing both dressing rooms to evacuate. Spectators were seen rushing toward open spaces for safety, with some leaving the stadium while others moved closer to the ground. The media center, a five-story building at the north end of the stadium, also saw a quick evacuation as people sought safe spaces amid the tremors.
Earthquake's epicenter located near Dhaka
While there is some confusion about the magnitude of the earthquake, local media in Bangladesh has reported that it was recorded at 5.5 on the Richter scale, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department mentioning it as 5.7, and the epicenter in Madhabdi, a municipality around 40km east of Dhaka. There have been reports of at least two damaged buildings in the capital city but no confirmed reports of casualties.
Tremors felt in Kolkata and Guwahati
The tremors were also felt in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and Guwahati, the venue for the second Test between India and South Africa from Saturday. The earthquake caused a brief interruption in play during the Bangladesh-Ireland Test match but resumed after a short break. At lunch on Day 3, Ireland was at 211 for 7 in response to Bangladesh's first innings total of 476 runs.