India, Bangladesh: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs in far eastern Sylhet Division, Bangladesh June 16

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in far eastern Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, at around 10:46 BST June 16. The epicenter was about 22 km (14 miles) southeast of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt across northeastern Bangladesh and most of the Northeast India Region. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. However, due to the vulnerability of infrastructure in the region, the quake may have caused some minor damage to rudimentary buildings, as well as also possibly trigger landslides in the mountainous terrain. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.