ISTANBUL: A 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul on Thursday but authorities said no immediate damage was reported in Turkey’s financial and cultural center.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said the earthquake struck in the Sea of Marmara at 1:59 p.m. (1059 GMT) at 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) deep, International media reported.

The official Anadolu news agency, quoting the Istanbul governor’s office, said there were no reports of damage. Turkish media showed children being evacuated from schools and city residents waiting outside their homes.

Turkey is crossed by fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. In 1999, A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in western Turkey killed more than 17,000 people.

(Agencies)