3.8-magnitude quake shakes Istanbul

ISTANBUL

A 3.8-magnitude quake shook Istanbul today, daily Hürriyet reported.

The quake reportedly happened at a depth of 13.2 kilometers and its epicenter was the Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul.

Small tremors were felt this morning in Istanbul and neighboring towns.

Professor: 'Quake very normal in Marmara Sea'

Following the 3.8-magnitude quake in the Büyükçekmece district of İstanbul, Professor Ahmet Mete Işıkara, former head of Istanbul Boğaziçi University’s Kandilli Observatory has told the Hürriyet Daily News that such earthquakes are normal for the region.

"Such tremors are very normal in the Marmara Sea. Current technology does not allow us to say anything about tomorrow or the future of earthquakes," Işıkara said.

Another Professor, Ahmet Ercan, also stressed to daily Hürriyet that he did not predict a big earthquake would hit Istanbul before 2029.

"Quakes of up to 5.5 or 5.7-magnitude are normal," said Ercan.