UPDATE 2 - 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocks northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH INJURIES; ADDS STATEMENTS FROM TURKISH RED CRESCENT AND HEALTH MINISTER

By Gamze Turkoglu Oguz

ANKARA (AA) - An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale has rocked northern Iraq, the US Geological Survey said on Sunday.

The epicenter of the quake was located around 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the city of Halabja, near the Iranian border, at a depth of 33 kilometers, it said.

The earthquake has also been felt in Turkey's southeastern and eastern regions, including in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman, Mardin, Hakkari, Van, Mus, and Sirnak.

According to Iraqi media, the earthquake damaged buildings in certain areas of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah.

A local health official of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) said at least 50 people were injured.

Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan has offered assistance to northern Iraq.

The National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) and emergency response teams are ready to aid northern Iraq, Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan told Anadolu Agency.

“We have made arrangements and we are ready to offer assistance to northern Iraq, in case of a demand for aid,” he said, adding Turkey was attempting contact northern Iraq.

Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik also told Anadolu Agency that a team in Erbil was headed to the earthquake-hit region.

*More to follow