A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the heart of the Himalayan region on Sunday night, with tremors felt across five countries, including Bangladesh.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences, the epicentre of the earthquake was located in Bhutan. However, its impact extended well beyond the country’s borders, reaching India, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The tremors triggered widespread panic in different areas, prompting many residents to flee their buildings for safety. No immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage have been received following the incident.
Experts have noted that the event serves as a stark reminder that the Himalayan region remains one of the most seismically active zones in the world.
Bhutan is situated in a high-risk area where the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates creates a constant risk of seismic activity. Consequently, the entire Himalayan subcontinent remains vulnerable to such natural disasters.
The latest earthquake follows multiple tremors that hit the Dharamshala region of India’s Himachal Pradesh earlier this week. The strongest of these measured 5.0 on the Richter scale, according to a report by PTI.
While these tremors caused panic across the area, no loss of life or major property damage was reported.
The quakes in the Dharamshala region occurred on 5 June, with the most powerful tremor striking at 10:04pm.
The epicentre was located approximately 40 kilometres from Dharamshala, in the area between Dhar Gadoi and RF Kugti in the Dhauladhar mountains along the Kangra-Chamba border.
Seismologists warn that similar earthquakes may occur in the future due to the active movement of tectonic plates in the Himalayan region. Experts have emphasised the urgent need to strengthen alertness and disaster preparedness in earthquake-prone areas.
