ISTANBUL - A total of 213 aftershocks were recorded into the early hours of Monday, in the wake of a 7.2- magnitude earthquake that hit southeastern Turkey's Van province Sunday.

The biggest recorded aftershocks up to 0430 GMT Monday morning measured 5.7 and 5.5 on the Richter scale, according to data from the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.

Another 37 quakes were recorded in the neighboring regions of Agri, Bitlis, Mus, Igdir, Kars and Erzurum with the biggest measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale.

Turkey, lying atop the North Anatolian fault, has been plagued by earthquakes frequently. On March 8, 2010, at least 38 people died and dozens of others injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Elazig province in eastern Turkey.

On August 17, 1999, two powerful earthquakes, measuring 6.7 and 7.4 on the Richter scale respectively, hit northwestern and western Turkey, killing about 18,000 people and affecting hundreds of thousands of others.

A major earthquake hit Van province in November 1976, with 5, 291 confirmed dead. The province has a population of just over 1 million.