61 people killed and 300+ injured in Iran and Iraq after a strong earthquake in border area, officials say

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 has hit Iraq near the Iranian border, striking 32 kilometers southwest of the city of Halabjah at 9:18 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. An Iraqi meteorology official put its magnitude at 6.5 according to preliminary information

The quake could be felt throughout the Middle East from Lebanon to Kuwait, with the epicenter around 200 kilometers northeast of Bagdad, at a depth of 33 kilometers.

Iraqi media reports indicate that the quake has damaged at least eight villages and has cut electricity to thousands of people.

A number of aftershocks have been felt since, with one reaching a magnitude of 4.9.