UPDATE 1 -- Powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Turkey, collapses buildings

2011-10-23 18:06:50 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANKARA (BNO NEWS) -- A powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey on early Sunday afternoon, seismologists said. The extent of the damage and possible casualties was not immediately known.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake at 1.41 p.m. local time (1041 GMT) was centered about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Van, the capital of the province which carries the same name. It struck about 7.2 kilometers (4.5 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

According to Turkish media reports, a number of buildings had collapsed in Van, but other details were not immediately available.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-23

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