A 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul on Thursday, rattling buildings and sending residents rushing into the streets, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey (AFAD) confirmed.
The daytime tremor affected homes, offices, and shops across the city of more than 15 million, triggering scenes of temporary panic.
The tremor sparked concern among Istanbul residents, many of whom recalled the city’s long history of destructive earthquakes.
The bustling streets quickly filled with evacuees, with reports of both workers and families leaving high-rise buildings and gathering in open areas until the shaking stopped.
AFAD confirmed that monitoring was ongoing and that further updates would be provided as more data became available.
The Governor’s Office reiterated its call for calm, while assuring residents that inspection teams remained on the ground.
Their were reported scenes of panic as office workers, shopkeepers, and families abandoned buildings during the tremor.
Eyewitnesses described the shaking as strong enough to dislodge items indoors, prompting many to gather in open spaces until the quake subsided.
For Istanbul, the incident was another reminder of its precarious seismic position. The quake, at 5.0 magnitude, was moderate by global standards, yet its psychological impact was significant in a city so conscious of its earthquake risks.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office posted on social media platform X that, as of Thursday evening, there were no immediate reports of serious damage.
However, it added that teams had been dispatched to carry out safety inspections across the city.
“There were no immediate reports of serious damage in the city of 16 million people,” the Governor’s Office said, “adding that its field teams had begun inspections.”
The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Marmara Sea, a seismically active zone that has long posed concerns for Istanbul.
The proximity of Thursday’s quake to Marmaraereglisi, a coastal town southwest of the city, underscored the continuing seismic risks facing Turkey’s most populous urban centre.
While no casualties or severe structural damage were immediately reported, the quake heightened public anxiety. Residents said the tremor, though brief, was strong enough to bring back fears of more powerful earthquakes.
Many Istanbulites stayed outdoors for some time after the shaking, reflecting both preparedness and unease in a city where seismic events are never taken lightly.
For now, Istanbul has returned to its usual condition, but the tremor underscored that beneath the city’s daily bustle lies an ever-present seismic risk.