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Key Points

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck Bangladesh at a shallow depth of 10km, making it more dangerous due to stronger ground shaking. The earthquake occurred where three tectonic plates meet, creating high seismic risk in the region. Bangladesh has 13 earthquake-prone areas with extreme risk zones in Chattogram and Sylhet. Dhaka's extreme population density makes it one of the world's 20 most vulnerable cities to earthquakes.

Key Points: 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh at Shallow Depth

  • Shallow 10km depth earthquake increases risk of stronger ground shaking
  • Magnitude 4.0 equivalent to approximately 6 tons of TNT explosives
  • Bangladesh sits at convergence of three major tectonic plates
  • Dhaka ranked among world's 20 most earthquake-vulnerable cities
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 4.0 strikes Bangladesh

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake hit Bangladesh at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks and stronger ground shaking according to NCS data.

"EQ of M: 4.0, On: 21/09/2025 11:49:36 IST, Lat: 25.04 N, Long: 91.57 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Bangladesh. - National Center for Seismology"

Dhaka, September 21

An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 struck Bangladesh on Sunday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.

As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.

In a post on X, it said, "EQ of M: 4.0, On: 21/09/2025 11:49:36 IST, Lat: 25.04 N, Long: 91.57 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Bangladesh."

https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1969650580319846500

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.

It is estimated that there is an earthquake every 30 seconds somewhere on our Earth. But the bulk of those are too weak to be identified. A magnitude of 4.0 earthquake is only equivalent to about 6 tons of TNT explosives, but because the Richter scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale, the amount of energy released increases exponentially: A magnitude 5.0 earthquake is about 200 tons of TNT, 7.0 is 199,000 tons, and 9.0 is 99,000,000 tons of TNT, The Daily Star reported.

About 99 million tons of TNT is enough to wipe out just about anything, and is the equivalent of about 25,000 nuclear bombs, according to USGS.

Bangladesh sits where the three tectonic plates - Indian-Eurasia-Burma - meet. Currently, the Indian plate is moving in the north-east at a speed of approximately 6cm per year and the Eurasian plate is moving north at a speed of 2cm per year above the Indian plate. There are five major fault zones in and around Bangladesh, namely Bogura fault zone, Tripura fault zone, Shilong Plateau, Dauki fault zone and Assam fault zone, The Daily Star reported.

Thus, Bangladesh is a location of 13 earthquake prone areas, and Chattogram, Chattogram Hill Tracts, and Jaintiapur of Sylhet remain in extreme risk zones. In 2022, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, with 30,093 residents per square kilometer was among cities with the highest population density in the world. And has been marked as one of the 20 cities most vulnerable to earthquakes in the world, as per The Daily Star.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The tectonic plate movement explanation is fascinating! 6cm per year might seem small but over centuries it creates massive pressure. This region really needs better earthquake preparedness.
A
Arjun K
Dhaka's population density is terrifying when you think about earthquake risks. 30,000 people per sq km! 😳 Our cities in India face similar challenges. Disaster management needs to be priority for all South Asian nations.
S
Sarah B
The energy comparison to nuclear bombs is mind-blowing. A magnitude 9 earthquake equivalent to 25,000 nukes? That puts things in perspective. Nature's power is humbling.
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Vikram M
Shallow depth of 10km means more shaking. Thankfully it was moderate magnitude. Bangladesh and Northeast India share similar seismic risks - we should collaborate on early warning systems.
M
Michael C
While the article is informative, it could have included more about immediate impact - any damage reports? Casualties? Sometimes we get too caught up in technical details and miss the human aspect.
A
Ananya R
The five fault zones mentioned are concerning. This entire region from Northeast India to Bangladesh is seismically active. We need better building codes and public awareness about earthquake safety.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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