What the record shows for Bangladesh
The strongest earthquake on record near Bangladesh is a magnitude 7.1 in 1918, centred 24 km N of Kishorganj, Bangladesh - 108 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 146 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Bangladesh - roughly 7 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 4 tsunamis within 300 km of Bangladesh between 1762 and 1897. The most significant was in 1874 near Sunderbans, which killed around 2,000 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Bangladesh lies near the active boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Bangladesh.
Earthquake risk in Bangladesh - FAQ
Is Bangladesh at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 7 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.1 in 1918.
What was the biggest earthquake in Bangladesh?
The strongest earthquake on record near Bangladesh is M7.1, in 1918 (24 km N of Kishorganj, Bangladesh), from USGS.
Does Bangladesh get tsunamis?
Yes - 4 tsunamis since 1762 (most recently 1897) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 2,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Bangladesh?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.