TURKEY (VOA News).- Turkish officials say an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 has destroyed homes in several villages in the country's east, killing at least 41 people and injuring 50 others.

Turkey's Kandilli Observatory says the quake struck the province of Elazig early Monday at 4:32 a.m. local time and was centered near the town of Karakocan. The quake toppled stone and mud-brick homes, along with the minarets of mosques in several villages.

Rescuers tried to free people trapped in the rubble and rush the injured to hospitals in cars and ambulances. Crowds gathered near the affected villages as relatives awaited news about family members. Turkey's Red Crescent organization began distributing aid to residents.

The earthquake also was felt in the neighboring provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Bingol. It sent residents rushing onto the streets. The quake also triggered more than 20 aftershocks.

Earthquakes happen frequently in Turkey, much of which is located on several fault lines.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.