Turkey: Magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurs in western Turkey at around 14:04 Aug. 31.

Event

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred in western Turkey at around 14:04 Aug. 31. The epicenter was about 162 km (100 miles) southeast of Bursa. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6.2 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout western Turkey. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.