An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale shook central Turkey early on Thursday causing no injury or damage, a quake observatory centre said.

Turkey lies on several faultlines and small tremors occur on an almost daily basis.

The Kandilli Quake Observatory Centre in its internet website said the tremor hit the central province of Afyon at 0621 GMT. A quake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale jolted the province in December but caused no damage or casualties.

We have not received any reports of damage or injury, Afyon Deputy Governor Ziya Guler told Reuters by telephone.

He said the epicentre of the quake was in the Bolvadin district of the province. The tremor that had lasted for some 10 seconds was barely felt in the town of Afyon itself.

We have closed the schools in Bolvadin for a day...because it is the place where the quake was felt most strongly, said Guler.

Two major earthquakes killed at least 18,000 people in the country's northwest in 1999 and left thousands homeless.