Earthquake shakes Bangladesh

A 4.6-magnitude quake jolted north-eastern Bangladesh today, but no damage or casualties were immediately reported, the country’s top meteorologists said.

The quake lasted 26 seconds late this afternoon, shaking Sylhet town and its adjacent areas, 120 miles north-east of the capital, Dhaka.

The exact location of the quake’s epicentre could not be determined immediately, as the impoverished country lacks adequate seismic equipment.

Many frightened people came out of their homes or businesses, local journalist Humayun Rashid Chowdhury told The Associated Press.

Today’s quake was the 15th this year in the region. Small scale quakes are common in the South Asian nation, but it has no history of big tremors.