United News of Bangladesh

A mild earthquake was felt in parts of Bangladesh on Thursday night, causing brief tremors in several districts. The tremor, measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, struck at 9:40 pm, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The EMSC said the epicentre was near Silchar in India, close to Karimganj on the Bangladesh border adjacent to Sylhet. The earthquake originated at a depth of 10 kilometres below the surface. Tremors were reported from parts of Sylhet, Mymensingh and Dhaka. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were received.

An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked the southern Philippines Monday, killing at least 19 people, injuring more than 200 others mostly in damaged buildings and sending a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami into nearby coasts. A few buildings collapsed and key infrastructure sustained quake damage in the city of General Santos, and tsunami damage was reported in at least one coastal village. Smaller waves were measured in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan. “It’s a major earthquake," Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said, warning people to seek advise before returning to damaged buildings and houses which could collapse due to aftershocks. “Our pickup truck suddenly jerked and I thought we had a flat tire,” said Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, told The Associated Press from the hard-hit port city of General Santos, where he was traveling when the quake struck at 7:37 a.m. “The shaking was very strong and people dashed out of houses into the streets," Sosmeña said. Another regional disaster-response official, Ednar Dayanghirang, told The AP that he was able to “hardly stand and keep my balance when the ground shook as I was leaving my house” in the southern port city of Davao. General Santos is a port city of more than 700,000 people that is a regional hub for the tuna export industry and other commerce. It was the strongest quake to strike the Philippines this year, and was was centered at sea off Mindanao, the second most populous island in the Philippines. According to Bacolcol, the quake occurred at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cancellation of classes and directed disaster-response agencies to immediately get to work in quake-hit provinces, saying “the national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind.” The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat of a tsunami largely passed about five hours after the quake. Philippine officials also lifted a tsunami warning by mid-afternoon. Six shanties on stilts were damaged in a coastal village in Zamboanga del Sur due to the quake and taller waves, officials said. Assessing damage and casualties At least 19 people were killed, mostly in collapsed buildings and landslides, while thousands of villagers were displaced, Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said without providing specific details. Among the dead were seven people in General Santos, where a few small buildings, including a popular hamburger joint, collapsed or were severely damaged, Sosmeña said. The other deaths were caused by falling debris, a damaged mosque and a landslide in the southern provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao Occidental and on Balut Island, Sosmeña and another reginal disaster-response official, Ednar Dayanghirang, said. Sosmeña said authorities were checking reports of some students being trapped in a two-story school that collapsed in General Santos. He could not immediately provide details but the national police said at least 12 people were missing in General Santos. The Bureau of Fire said without elaborating that it was involved in search and rescue efforts in a damaged building and a warehouse in General Santos. Public schools had reopened nationwide Monday after the summer vacation from April to May. Dayanghirang said more than 100 students attending morning flag-raising ceremonies in his southern region sustained bruises and some fainted in panic. The international airport in General Santos was temporarily shut, and 17 domestic flights were canceled, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said. The DZRH radio network in Manila reported that a small commercial building where its provincial station was located partly collapsed and staffers dashed to the ground floor without injuries. It wasn’t clear if other people were trapped in the rubble of the four-story office building. Debris also fell from other buildings, hitting tricycle taxis parked below. Tsunami waves near 3 feet measuredWaves of 1 meter (3 feet) were generally monitored in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. A 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) wave was monitored at one time in the coastal area of Kiamba town in Sarangani, Bacolcol said. The quake was also felt in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island. Sabah is just a boat ride away from southern Philippines. An 83-centimeter (2.7-feet) tsunami was measured by a gauge off Indonesia's Sulawesi island, and the PTWC said 30-centimer (1-foot) waves were measured in Palau. Waves up to 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) were detected on the remote Japanese island of Chichijima and the central Japanese town of Kushimoto, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the depth of the original quake at 55 kilometers (34 miles). Variations in measurements by different agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. Aftershocks as strong as 6.5 magnitude were recorded. The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake centered at sea shook part of the southern Philippines early Monday, causing damage in a key coastal city, knocking down power and setting off 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami waves along nearby coasts, officials said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked people to immediately go to higher ground in Philippine areas vulnerable to a tsunami, and Indonesian and Malaysian authorities also issued warnings to their nearby coastal areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear if people were trapped or injured in the collapse of at least one small building in General Santos, a tuna-processing city of more than 700,000 people that is also a commercial hub in the south. The strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines this year was was centered at sea about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southwest of General Santos and was caused by movement in the Cotabato Trench at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It struck at 7:37 a.m., the institute's director, Teresito Bacolcol said. “It's a major earthquake and we're expecting damages and we've already some damaged buildings based on videos we've seen,” Bacolcol told The Associated Press. DZRH radio station in Manila reported that the small commercial building where its provincial branch was located partly collapsed and staffers dashed to the ground floor without injuries. It wasn’t clear if other people were trapped in the rubble of the four-story office building due to the quake, which struck before office hours. Debris also fell from other buildings, hitting tricycle taxis parked below. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) were possible on some coasts of the Philippines. Waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) were possible on some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Bacolcol said 1-meter (3-foot) waves were monitored in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani by land-based tsunami watch stations. Smaller waves were monitored in at least one other province, he said. “Please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” Marcos told people in quake-hit provinces. “The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said and added that disaster-response agencies were on standby to respond. Malaysia’s Meteorological Department issued a tsunami warning for Sabah state on Borneo island. Sabah is just a boat ride away from southern Philippines. An 83-centimeter (2.7-feet) tsunami was measured by a gauge off Indonesia's Sulawesi island. Smaller sea changes were possible in Taiwan, Japan, Papua New Guinea and several island nations and territories in the western Pacific. An advisory for Guam was lifted about two hours after the quake and there was no threat to Hawaii, the PTWC said. Aftershocks up to 6.5 magnitude followed, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It measured the original quake at 55 kilometers (34 miles) deep. Variations in measurements by different agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year.  

A mild earthquake was felt in capital Dhaka and parts of Bangladesh on Sunday night. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the tremor measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located in Bhutan, 19km from Thimpu. It struck at 11.36pm. The quake caused panic among residents in Dhaka, with many people rushing out of their homes in fear. However, no damage was reported till the filing of this report.

A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Eastern Samar province in central Philippines on Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The quake hit at 2:09 pm local time, with its epicentre located at a depth of about 10 kilometres. It was initially measured at 11.76 degrees north latitude and 125.37 degrees east longitude, the agency said. Local media reported that many residents rushed out of their homes and gathered in open areas as a safety measure. However, no deaths or injuries have been reported so far. The Philippines is prone to frequent earthquakes as it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for intense seismic and volcanic activity.

A strong earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off northern Japan on Monday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert for the region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake hit off the Sanriku coast at around 4:53 pm (0753 GMT), at a depth of about 10 kilometers beneath the seabed. Public broadcaster NHK reported that tsunami waves of up to 3 meters could reach coastal areas shortly.

Japan on Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster that struck its northeastern coast, as the government pushes for increased use of atomic energy. The magnitude 9.0 quake and resulting tsunami on March 11, 2011, killed more than 22,000 people and forced nearly 500,000 to flee their homes, mostly due to flooding. In Fukushima, around 160,000 residents evacuated after radiation leaked from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, with about 26,000 still living elsewhere due to lingering radiation fears or restrictions in their hometowns. At 2:46 p.m., the country observed a moment of silence, marking the exact time the quake struck. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaking at a ceremony in Fukushima, vowed to accelerate the region’s recovery over the next five years and to continue sharing “the valuable lessons learned from the disaster.” She has also pushed for faster restarts of nuclear reactors, supporting nuclear power as a stable energy source following a policy reversal in 2022 that ended a decade-long phase-out. Early Wednesday, some residents of the tsunami-hit areas visited the coast to pray for missing loved ones. Over one million homes, schools, and offices in Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and other coastal regions were destroyed or damaged. While infrastructure has largely been rebuilt, community and economic recovery has been slow, with many residents relocating permanently. At Fukushima Daiichi, meltdowns occurred in three of six reactors, with at least 880 tons of melted fuel still inside. Radiation levels prevent full inspection, and large-scale removal is not expected until 2037 or later. Decontamination efforts produced massive amounts of slightly radioactive soil—enough to fill 11 baseball stadiums which the government plans to move, including for public works, but faces local resistance.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered the authorities concerned to keep 100,000 volunteers ready in Dhaka to deal with any potential earthquake situation. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu disclosed this while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday after a meeting with the Prime Minister. The minister said the Prime Minister gave several instructions in view of the recent increase in earthquake incidents. “He (PM) has instructed us to prepare 100,000 volunteers in Dhaka city following the same model we have in the coastal areas,” Dulu said. The minister said the Prime Minister also directed the authorities to identify open spaces, including playgrounds and schools in Dhaka, to relocate people during emergencies. The Prime Minister instructed the ministry to ensure quick procurement of necessary equipment and work with other ministries to build public awareness, he said. “We will work on these issues and sit again on the 11th to review the follow-up,” the minister added. Asked about the country’s rescue capacity in the case of a major earthquake, Dulu said the discussions were aimed at capacity building. “So far, the equipment we have procured has been handed over to the Armed Forces Division and some to the Fire Service,” he said. On long-term disaster management planning, the minister said there is a 180-day plan in place. “We will implement whatever falls within our jurisdiction,” he added. Regarding the removal of risky high-rise or vulnerable buildings in high-risk zones under Rajuk, the minister said, “Yes, it is within our purview. Where it involves the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, we coordinate and work together,” he said.

An earthquake shook Dhaka and several other parts of the country on Friday afternoon. It was third tremor that hit Bangladesh within a span of 40 hours. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD), the earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt at 1:52 pm. The epicentre was located in Assasuni  upazila of Satkhira District, said meteorologist Shahnaj Sultana of  BMD. According  to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the epicentre was located 47 kilometres southwest of Khulna district town and 29 kilometres southeast of Satkhira. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. UNB’s Khulna correspondent reports that a moderate earthquake was also felt in Khulna and Ashashuni upazila of Satkhira at around 1:52pm. Md Mizanur Rahman, a weather officer at the Khulna Meteorological Department, said the quake was of moderate intensity. In Satkhira, many residents rushed out of their homes in fear when the tremor struck. However, no structural damage was reported immediately. Earlier, a mild earthquake was felt in Dhaka, Sylhet district and adjoining areas on Wednesday night.  The tremor, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 10:53pm, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). Another mild quake struck Dhaka and various parts of the country on Thursday.  The Earthquake Observation and Research Centre of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the tremor, which occurred at 12:04pm, had a magnitude of 4.6 on the Richter scale.

About 25,000 children in Kunar province are still living in makeshift tents six months after a devastating earthquake struck the region, international aid group Save the Children said on Thursday. According to its report, families are using traditional wood- or coal-burning heaters inside tarpaulin shelters to stay warm, which increases the risk of fire. It added that reconstruction work in the mountainous area has hardly started, and the destruction in some villages is so severe that they are unlikely to be rebuilt. At least 61 dead as heavy snowfall, rain lash Afghanistan  The quake also badly damaged the education system. More than half of nearly 1,300 classrooms assessed were either completely or partially destroyed. Even before the disaster, around 50,000 primary school-aged children in Kunar — the worst-hit province — were already out of school, the report noted. A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on August 31 last year, causing widespread devastation mainly in Kunar and becoming one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.