Turkey ? A strong earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6, hit eastern Turkey Monday, killing at least 38 people, an official said.

Bekir Yanilmaz, the mayor of the town of Kovancilar, said 38 people had died in three villages in Elazig province.

CNN-Turk television said rescue teams dispatched to the area were working to save six people trapped under rubble.

At least four of the victims were children, according to the private Dogan news agency.

The quake in Elazig province occurred at 4:32 a.m. and was centered near the village of Basyurt, the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory. It was followed by an aftershock measuring 4.1.

The quake was felt in neighboring provinces of Tunceli, Bingol and Diyarbakir where residents fled to the streets in panic and spent the night outdoors.

Earthquakes are frequent in Turkey, much of which lies atop the North Anatolian fault.