Strong earthquake hits northwest Turkey, residents flee homes

A strong earthquake struck northwest Turkey on Sunday, prompting residents to flee their homes, emergency authorities said.

The 5.4-magnitude quake hit the town of Simav in Kütahya province at a depth of 8 kilometers at 12:59 a.m. local time (09:59 GMT). It was followed by a 4.0-magnitude aftershock.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Residents in Istanbul, about 100 kilometers north of the epicenter, also felt the tremor, according to media reports. Television footage showed people gathering in squares and parks in Kütahya following the quake.