WATCH: Historical Sherwana Castle in Kurdistan damaged by earthquake

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The 200-year-old castle of Sherwana in the Kurdistan Region’s city of Kalar was partially damaged following a major earthquake on Sunday.

A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake Sunday night rocked the border areas between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), killing over 300 people and injuring more than 7,000 on both sides.

“The castle is damaged. We are in contact with the authorities and administration in the area to renovate and fix the castle,” Salih Mohammed, the deputy head of archaeology in Garmiyan, told Kurdistan 24 on Monday.

Sherwana Castle is one of the most symbolic and historical sites in the Kurdistan Region. It was built by Mohammed Pasha Jaff, a Kurdish king appointed by the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s.

It houses the Museum of Kalar, which has many historical artifacts from the Jaff tribe.

The earthquake has heavily damaged houses, buildings, and properties, especially in the border areas with Iran such as Halabja, Darbandikhan, and surrounding cities.

Editing by Nadia Riva

(Harem Jaff contributed to this report)