A strong 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Dhaka and several districts on Friday around 10:38am, prompting the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to mobilize volunteers and medical teams as initial reports of damage and casualties emerged.
BDRCS volunteers and district branches are currently in the affected sites supporting the needs, said a press release issued on Friday.
The latest reports indicate 10 deaths and more than hundreds wounded. Cracks and tilting have been reported in several buildings, particularly older or vulnerable structures.
No major structural collapses or mass casualties have been confirmed so far, and assessments remain ongoing.
Dr Kabir M Ashraf Alam, secretary general of BDRCS, said: “Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives today (Friday). BDRCS volunteers were on the ground within minutes, supporting affected people and helping authorities gather critical information. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain ready to scale up assistance if needed.”
BDRCS has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and placed first aid and psychosocial support (PSS) teams on standby. Red Crescent Youth (RCY) volunteers are already supporting affected communities in Old Dhaka and Narayanganj, according to the press release.
The IFRC delegation in Bangladesh is supporting BDRCS in collecting field information and keeping the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office and partners.
Alberto Bocanegra, head of delegation, IFRC Bangladesh, said: “This earthquake is a reminder of the significant seismic risk Bangladesh faces, especially in densely populated cities like Dhaka.”
He added: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as they assess the situation and support affected communities. IFRC is ready to provide additional resources and expertise should the needs escalate.”
BDRCS urges the public to remain calm, follow official information from authorities, and avoid re-entering buildings that show visible cracks or structural damage until cleared by experts.
Notably, the reports stated, the earthquake has the epicentre in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, approximately 40km from Dhaka. Tremors were felt across wide areas, including Narayanganj, Chandpur, Sirajganj, Sitakunda, Nilphamari, Bogra, Barisal, Patuakhali, and Moulvibazar.
