80 fall ill, 6 injured as workers rush out of Cumilla EPZ factories during quake
The incident occurred as the 5.7-magnitude quake, felt at 10:38am, shook Cumilla along with other parts of the country, resulting in at least eight deaths and over a hundred injuries.
At least 80 female workers fell ill from panic and six others were injured while rushing to exit factories at the Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) area during the earthquake this morning (21 November).
The incident occurred as the 5.7-magnitude quake, felt at 10:38am, shook Cumilla along with other parts of the country, resulting in at least nine deaths so far and over a hundred injuries.
Of the 80 affected workers, 30 were taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital, while 50 received primary treatment at the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) hospital inside the EPZ.
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Confirming the matter, Md Saiful Islam, in-charge of the Cumilla EPZ police outpost, told The Business Standard that none of the workers sustained life-threatening injuries.
"Most of them suffered panic attacks while trying to flee. Everyone has received primary treatment and returned home," he added.
Cumilla Medical College Hospital physician (emergency) Tanvir Ahmed said at least 30 people were given first aid.
According to eyewitnesses, the strong tremor led many female workers to rush out of the buildings, causing several to collapse in fear. Some fell unconscious on the factory floor due to panic.
Meanwhile, in Cumilla's Daudkandi upazila, a five-storey building tilted following the quake, while cracks developed in another structure, residents said.
