Turkey hit by 5.3 magnitude earthquake near Georgian border

Tremors felt in Georgia, no immediate reports of injuries

The epicenter was located in the eastern province of Erzurum

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Tuesday, near the border with Georgia, the country's disaster management agency AFAD said.

The quake was felt in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, where buildings shook for several seconds, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in either country.

The epicenter was located in the eastern province of Erzurum, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the Georgian border.

The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) and was followed by several smaller aftershocks.

Turkish authorities said they were still assessing the situation and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The Georgian Interior Ministry said there were no reports of damage or injuries in Georgia, but people in Tbilisi reported feeling the tremors.

Turkey is located in a seismically active region and is frequently hit by earthquakes.

In 1999, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people.

In 2011, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey, killing more than 50 people.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the Tuesday quake was likely caused by the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates.