Istanbul, 23 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Numerous aftershocks have hit the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul following a stronger earthquake that was also felt in parts of Greece, authorities reported on Wednesday.

The Turkish national disaster agency reported several tremors with magnitudes of between 4 and 5, all with epicentres in the Sea of Marmara, just off the city.

Another major earthquake cannot be ruled out, geologist Okan Tüysüz told broadcaster NTV.

At 12:49 pm (0949 GMT), an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul, the strongest in a series of quakes. Residents left their homes and apartments after the tremor, which was clearly felt in the city centre.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, writing on X in English, extended his "best wishes to our citizens" and said "we are closely monitoring the situation."

The earthquake was also strongly felt in parts of Greece. People in the north-east of the country, near the Evros River bordering Turkey, were alarmed, according to Greek media reports.

Earlier, they had already received an SMS warning from the Greek civil protection agency following the initial tremors.

Several Aegean islands also felt the tremors, including Chios and Lesbos. However, there were no immediate reports of damage.

Experts believe that a large earthquake is overdue in Istanbul, a city of 16 million people.

According to Turkey's Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Murat Kurum, 1.5 million residential and commercial units are considered at risk of earthquake damage.

MIA file photo