An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck Istanbul on Thursday afternoon, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC).
The tremor hit at 2:55 p.m. local time in the Marmara Sea, southwest of the city, near the coastal town of Marmara Ereglisi. It follows a 5.4-magnitude quake last Sunday in Simav, in western Turkey’s Kutahya Province.
Authorities confirmed there were no reports of injuries or serious damage in Turkey’s largest city, home to more than 16 million people and a major international tourism hub. The Istanbul Governor’s office said inspection teams have been dispatched to assess potential risks.
Turkey, which sits on several active fault lines, has experienced multiple quakes over the past year, including a 6.2-magnitude tremor in April that left more than 150 people injured. Two years ago, the country suffered its deadliest earthquake on record, which killed over 55,000 people and injured more than 107,000.
Amid persistent tensions between Greece and Turkey, earthquake relief has proven to be an unexpected bridge for cooperation. The two longtime rivals, both highly vulnerable to seismic disasters, have a history of setting aside disputes in times of crisis, most notably following the devastating earthquakes of 1999.
