5.4-magnitude earthquake hits Turkey; aftershock follows - no casualties reported

A powerful earthquake struck northwestern Turkey on Sunday, sending residents rushing outdoors, emergency services said. No casualties have been reported so far.

The 5.4-magnitude quake was centered in the town of Simav in Kütahya province at a depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), according to the Turkish disaster management authority (AFAD), The Associated Press reported. The tremor struck at 12:59 pm local time (3:29 pm IST) and was followed by a 4.0-magnitude aftershock.

Media reports said the quake was felt in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the north. Television footage showed residents in Kütahya gathering in open spaces after the tremor.

The region has experienced heightened seismic activity in recent months. In August, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Sindirgi in the neighbouring Balikesir province, killing one person and injuring dozens. Smaller quakes have since rattled the area.

Turkey sits on several active fault lines and is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. In 2023, a catastrophic 7.8-magnitude quake killed more than 53,000 people in the country and another 6,000 in northern Syria, while destroying or damaging hundreds of thousands of buildings across 11 Turkish provinces.