The tremor, which occurred at 12:49 local time (0949 GMT), was strongly felt across Istanbul and neighboring provinces, causing widespread panic as residents fled buildings. 

A second earthquake of magnitude 4.9 hit at 13:02 (1002 GMT), with its epicenter located off the coast of Buyukcekmece in the Sea of Marmara.

As of now, no reports of casualties or destruction have been received. AFAD stated that it had conducted an initial assessment through reports from the 112 Emergency Call Center, and no major damage has been reported so far. Response teams have been mobilized and are continuing field scans to ensure public safety.

The Istanbul governor's office also confirmed that there were no reports of significant destruction and that efforts to assess the situation are ongoing. Authorities urged citizens not to enter buildings that may have been damaged and to avoid unnecessary use of vehicles or mobile networks, except for emergencies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his well-wishes to citizens affected by the tremors, adding that the government is closely monitoring the situation. He received updates from key ministers, including those responsible for interior affairs, environment, health, and AFAD, along with the governor of Istanbul.

The earthquake has raised concerns in a region highly susceptible to seismic activity, but so far, the situation appears to have been managed with no major incidents reported.