A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkey's AFAD disaster agency said, one of the strongest quakes to strike the city of 16 million in recent years.
There were no immediate reports of damage, but people evacuated buildings as the quake hit and shook the city, located on the European and Asian shores of the Bosphorus strait.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 12:49 (0949 GMT) was in the area of Silivri, some 80 km (50 miles) to the west of Istanbul. It was at a depth of 6.92 km (4.3 miles), AFAD said.
Broadcaster TGRT reported that one person had been injured as a result of jumping off a balcony during the quake, which occurred during a public holiday in Turkey.
As buildings shook, people rushed onto the streets where crowds of worried-looking people stared at their mobile phones for information or made calls, an AFP correspondent said.
"I just felt earthquake, I've got to get out," said a shaken-looking decorator rushing out of a fourth floor apartment where he was working near the city's Galata Tower, who did not want to give his name.
"Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing," the regional governor's office said, urging people to avoid any structures that might have been damaged in the tremors.
"No serious cases have been reported so far following the earthquake in Istanbul," the Istanbul municipality said on X.
The tremors could be felt as far away as Bulgaria, according to AFP journalists in the capital Sofia.
(Reuters and AFP)
