Kolkata Shaken: 5.3 Quake Strikes Neighboring Bangladesh

A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake, centered in southwestern Bangladesh, was felt across Kolkata and southern Bengal on Friday afternoon. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the tremor occurred at approximately 1:52 PM local time. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) had initially reported a slightly higher magnitude of 5.5, with its epicenter located 26 km southwest of Khulna.

The shaking was significant enough to cause office workers to evacuate buildings and residents to gather in open spaces as a precautionary measure. The USGS noted the earthquake's proximity to Taki, a town in West Bengal, approximately 23 kilometers from the epicenter.

While the tremors were widely felt, there were no immediate reports of major structural damage or casualties in Kolkata. Earthquakes of this magnitude are categorized as moderate and can cause noticeable shaking over a considerable area, especially in regions with soft soil like the Gangetic delta.