Dhaka, July 28: At least 50 people, including children, were injured and several houses damaged as a series of tremors jolted the south-eastern port city of Chittagong and its adjoining districts within a span of 16 hours.
Hundreds of people jumped out of their beds into the streets when the first tremor, measuring 5.09 on the Richter scale, hit Chittagong early morning at 5:19 am yesterday.
The quake was later found to be the strongest of the four that were to hit the region. The last one touching 3.98 on the Richter scale occurred at 8:33 pm, the geophysical observatory centre said. None of the tremors, however, lasted more than 20 seconds. The maximum damage from the tremors was reported from Rangamati hill district where around 20 people were injured. A pregnant woman, who gave birth to a still-born baby, was among those injured, a report in the `Daily Star' said.

Around 50 mud houses were completely damaged by the quake in Maheskhali and Kutubdia, the two off-shore islands under Cox's Bazar district.

A high-powered 20 MVA electrical transformer exploded in Chittagong, official sources said adding a number of buildings including divisional public library house in the port city developed cracks due to the tremors, the report said.

The other districts where quakes were felt included Naokhali, Comilla and Khagrachari Hill district.

In all, the jolts were felt in six districts while damages were caused in at least three districts, it said.

Since 1996, a total of 202 tremors of various intensities have hit Bangladesh.

Bureau Report.