NEWS CENTER- A 7.3 magnitude earthquake centered between Halabja and Sulaymaniyah cities was felt in many cities of Kurdistan and damaged many cities.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Eastern and Southern Kurdistan on Sunday night. The earthquake was reportedly centered between Halabja and Sulaymaniyah cities. The US Geological Survey has announced that the earthquake 7.3 temblor was centered 32 kilometers southwest of Halabja, near the northeastern border with Iran.

8 villages damaged

Eight villages of Sulaymaniyah have been reportedly damaged in the earthquake and the reports say a person died in the Sharezûr district of Sulaymaniyah. According to unofficial reports, 50 people have been hospitalized in Derbendixan. Kurdistan Regional Government's Sulaymaniyah Health Manager Mirhan Muhammed, announced that 50 people have been injured in the Derbendixan district of Sulaymaniyah.

Derbendixan District Governor Nasih Mela Hasan made a statement after the earthquake and called for support from the government. Hasan reported that many people have been injured and some of them have been seriously injured. Four people reportedly died in Derbendixan district. 58 people have been reportedly taken to hospital in Hewlêr. A house was reportedly collapsed in the Hey Eskeri Neighborhood of Kirkuk and at least 65 injured people have been reported from Kirkuk. Many injured people have been reported from Xaneqîn district of Diyala and over 100 people have been reportedly injured in Halabja. Official holiday has been declared in the city today.

Heavy loss in the cities of Rojhilat

Iranian State Television said, “At least 6 died, and many injured in Iran” in the first hours after the earthquake. But at night, Iranian Health Minister announced that 164 people died and 1,568 people injured. Furthermore, the reports say 30 people died and more than 300 people injured in Qasr-e Shirin County of Kermanshah Province, Iran.

Local sources in Kermanshah reported that many search and rescue teams were sent to Qasr-e Shirin County.

The earthquake was felt in many cities of Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Cizîrê Canton of Rojava, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.

The earthquake shook many cities near border such as Diyarbakır, Batman, Siirt, Şırnak, Mardin, Malatya, Hakkari and Van.