A 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul and other parts of northwestern Turkey on Thursday, according to Reuters.
The quake triggered panic as people rushed out into the streets and schools were evacuated.
However, authorities reported no immediate damage or casualties.
The moderately strong earthquake struck at 2:55 p.m. local time (1155 GMT) at a preliminary depth of 6.7 kilometers (4.1 miles).
Its epicenter was in the Sea of Marmara off Turkey’s Tekirdag province, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
Some residents rushed out of buildings in panic while students were evacuated from classrooms, the private broadcaster NTV reported.
The Istanbul governor’s office said initial assessments found no sign of damage.
Turkey experiences frequent earthquakes due to being on top of major fault lines.
In August, a 6.1-magnitude quake struck Sindirgi in Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province, killing one and injuring dozens.
The region has since been rattled by smaller tremors.
In 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake also devastated Turkey, killing over 53,000 people and destroying or damaging hundreds of thousands of buildings across 11 southern and southeastern provinces.
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