A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye’s largest city, Istanbul, on Thursday afternoon, shaking buildings and sending residents rushing into the streets in panic.

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at 2:55 p.m. local time (11:55 GMT) in the Marmara Sea, southwest of Istanbul, near the coastal town of Marmaraereğlisi. The tremor was felt strongly across the metropolis of 16 million people, situated along a fault line long seen as a major seismic risk.

The Istanbul Governor’s Office confirmed there were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties. Field teams were dispatched to carry out inspections across the city.

Local sources reported that many residents quickly evacuated homes, offices, and shops as buildings swayed during the quake. Traffic in some districts was briefly disrupted as crowds gathered in open spaces.

This latest tremor comes months after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul in April, leaving more than 150 people injured—most hurt while attempting to flee buildings in panic. That quake was described as one of the city’s strongest in years.

Türkiye, crisscrossed by several major fault lines, has a long history of devastating earthquakes. Just two years ago, the nation endured the deadliest disaster in its modern history: a 7.8-magnitude quake in February 2023 that killed more than 55,000 people and injured over 107,000 across southern Türkiye and northern Syria.

Seismologists have repeatedly warned that Istanbul, with its dense population and aging building stock, faces a significant earthquake risk in the future. (ILKHA)