Northwest Turkey hit by 5.4 magnitude earthquake, tremors felt in Istanbul

A strong earthquake rattled northwestern Turkey on Sunday, prompting residents to evacuate their homes, emergency officials reported. The 5.4-magnitude quake struck near the town of Simav in Kutahya province at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), according to Turkey’s disaster agency AFAD.

The tremor occurred at 12.59 pm local time (0959 GMT) and was followed by a 4.0-magnitude aftershock. The quake was also felt in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the north, according to media accounts. No casualties have been reported so far.

Footage from Kutahya showed people gathering in open squares and parks after the shaking.

This recent quake adds to a series of seismic events in the region. In August, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Sindirgi in the neighboring Balikesir province, causing one death and injuring dozens. Since then, the area has experienced several smaller tremors.

Turkey lies on major fault lines, making earthquakes a common occurrence.

Earlier in 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern and southeastern Turkey, killing over 53,000 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of thousands of buildings across 11 provinces. The quake also claimed around 6,000 lives in northern Syria.

- Ends