5.7-magnitude earthquake shakes Istanbul
There were no immediate reports of damage, but many schools and offices were evacuated.
ISTANBUL (AFP) - A 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Turkey s largest city on Thursday, driving residents to evacuate buildings, AFP journalists witnessed.
The quake s centre was in the town of Silivri in Istanbul province, Istanbul s Bogazici University Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute said, measuring it at magnitude 5.7.
There were no immediate reports of damage, but many schools and offices were evacuated.
Istanbul lies near a major faultline and experts have forecast that a severe earthquake is due there in the coming years.
A large quake could devastate the city of 15 million, which has allowed widespread building without safety precautions.
