A 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey late Wednesday, less than three weeks after a strong temblor in the region killed about 600 people.

State television reported that the quake toppled a six-story hotel and several buildings hit by the previous quake in the Van region, near the border with Iran. It is not clear how many people were trapped in the hotel, but some reports say it was used by foreign journalists and aid workers.

Local television said rescuers were being sent to the region from the capital Ankara and other places to the area where work had begun to clear debris from the previous disaster.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake struck at 9:23 PM local time. The epicenter was about 15 kilometers from Van province that was devastated by a 7.2-magnitude quake on October 23.

It is not clear if Wednesday's quake was a strong aftershock of the October quake.