Earthquake in Kolkata: Magnitude 5.4 tremors strike Bangladesh, netizens say ‘were shaken to core’
An earthquake, reportedly of magnitude of 5.4, struck southwest of the BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka, in Bangladesh Friday afternoon.
Earthquake tremors, reportedly of magnitude 5.4, were felt across Kolkata and adjoining areas on Friday, February 27. There has been no report of casualties or any confirmation on the magnitude and epicentre of the earthquake.
According to ANI, the earthquake of magnitude of 5.4 struck South-West from the BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka, in Bangladesh Friday afternoon.
Its epicentre was located just 3 km inside Bangladesh near the India-Bangladesh border," the Times of India reported.
An official told PTI that the earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata, adjacent West Bengal districts, causing panic among people.
Social media was flooded with netizens posting queries related to the earthquake. Some said they were “shaken to the core.”
One user said, “Earthquake in Kolkata. Possibly the strongest tremors I have felt in life. Persisted for several seconds. The building shook. Things from the shelves toppled. Praying for safety.”
Another person exclaimed, “Massive Earthquake in Kolkata! 🚨Hope everyone is safe.”
Meanwhile, a video emerged showing Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar addressing a gathering when the tremors struck the city, briefly interrupting the event. The video was first shared by news agency IANS.
Mint could not verify the authenticity of the video.
Earlier, residents of Kolkata had reported feeling tremors on February 3 following an earthquake originating near Yenangyaung, Myanmar.
According to seismic data by United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake measured a magnitude of 5.9 and struck at 15:34 UTC, approximately 95 km west of Yenangyaung at a depth of 62.7 km.
People in Kolkata had then said they felt shaking at homes and restaurants. Some accounts highlighted the intensity of the shaking.
Earthquake in Kolkata again... Tremors felt across couches, bed and coffee mugs!" wrote one resident, while another shared, "Felt this 20 minutes back, seated at my desk. Anyone else in #Kolkata felt the shockwaves?"
About the Author
Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a Delhi-based digital journalist with over six years of experience. She covers all things politics, but also keeps a close eye on what’s happening in science and space. <br><br> Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with over six years of experience and covers national/international politics and science beats. <br><br> She has been working with LiveMint since October 2023. Previously, she worked with India Today and CBCTV-18 as a senior sub-editor, where she extensively covered elections, Parliament bills/debates, leadership tussles and more. <br><br> When not breaking news, she interviews analysts or digs into scientific research/space exploration. At CNBCTV-18, she marked her first TV debut with special coverage of the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission and the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> She holds a BA in English literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a master’s degree in Development Studies.