6.8 magnitude quake shakes Dhaka, other parts of Bangladesh

By Unknown 12:51 AM

6.8 magnitude quake shakes Dhaka, other parts of Bangladesh
The 6.8-magnitude tremor, with its epicentre in central Myanmar's Chauk, was felt in Bangladesh around 4:34pm on Wednesday.2016

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck 143 km (88 miles) west of the city of Meiktila at a depth of 84 km (52 miles), reported Reuters.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage on both Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The quake shook up buildings in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon and in other towns and cities, witnesses said.

Office buildings in the Thai capital of Bangkok, to the east of Myanmar, shook for a few seconds, residents there said.

Dhaka University Earth Observatory Curator Prof Syed Humayun Akhter told bdnews24.com that the earthquake's epicentre was in Chauk, some 500 kilometres from Dhaka, at a depth of 84 kilometres.

Citizens in Dhaka were seen rushing out of buildings and to open spaces as the quake struck.

By Unknown 12:37 AM

The number of people killed by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy has risen from 159 to 247, officials have confirmed.

At least 247 people have died in an earthquake which has devastated parts of central Italy, regional officials have said.

The 6.2 magnitude quake struck the Lazio, Umbria and Le Marche regions in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction.

The death toll from the disaster has risen from 159 to 247, Italian authorities have confirmed.

Dozens are believed to be trapped in Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, while thousands of others have been left homeless.

At least 368 people have been taken to hospital with injuries.

Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, said: "The town isn't here any more.

"I believe the toll will rise."

Many of the victims were children, Italy's health minister Beatrice Lorenzin said.

An 18-month-old girl was among the victims in Arquata del Tronto, while an 11-year-old boy died after the collapse of a hotel in Amatrice.

Rescue teams and volunteers have poured in from across Italy, using bulldozers and often their bare hands to pull survivors from the wreckage.