Death toll in Iran-Iraq earthquake climbs above 200

(CNN) More than 200 people are dead and 1,700 injured after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between Iran and Iraq. 

Iran's Press TV says the highest number of casualties in the country occurred in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, Kermanshah province.

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said 100 of the 207 reported dead were from that town alone.

While most of the deaths have been reported in Iran, the quake's epicenter was across the border in Iraq, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of Baghdad.

  

Tremors were felt throughout the country, according the US Geological Survey.

The quake crushed buildings in Darbandikhan, in northern Iraq, according to video from AFP. Dozens of people from the town were wounded, according to Omar Ahmad, the governor of Sulaimaniya province. In nearby Halabja, at least four people were reported dead.

Iraq's Meteorological Organization issued a warning on Iraqi State TV urging citizens to stay away from buildings and to refrain from using elevators.

  

Shocks were also felt in Pakistan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Turkey, news agencies in those countries reported.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was closely following the situation of the country's citizens, a statement from his office said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei sent a message of condolence, and urged military and civilian help to be dispatched to quake victims. 

CNN's Kay Guerrero, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Flora Charner, Hande Atay Alam, Alaa Elassar and Jonny Hallam contributed this report from Atlanta. Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed from Tehran, Iran and Mohammad Jambaz from Erbil, Iraq.