ANKARA (BNO NEWS) -- A powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey on early Sunday afternoon, seismologists said, destroying numerous buildings and causing an unknown number of casualties.

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 the Anatolia news agency, the earthquake destroyed 'many' buildings in the city of Van, causing an unknown number of casualties. Among the buildings which collapsed is a 7-story building, the news agency said, adding that people were trapped underneath the rubble.

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