Georgian rescuers have joined the search and rescue efforts in earthquake-ravaged southeast Turkey, Georgia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Giorgi Janjghava, told Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) First Channel.

“As we know, they are already in Adiyaman Province, participating in rescue efforts; we are in communication with them,” the ambassador stated, adding that all efforts are focused on this region.

“The rescue operation is still ongoing. We were one of the first to respond and got there on time,” he said.

The situation on the ground, according to Janjghava, is changing every hour, and the search for six missing Georgian nationals in the disaster zone is ongoing.

Since the deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake jolted southern Turkey, near the border with Syria, in the early hours of February 6, more than 240 aftershocks have been reported. As a result of the natural disaster, the death toll has risen to 3,549, with 21,103 people wounded. Earthquakes destroyed around 5,775 buildings in Turkey, according to estimates. At this point, approximately 380,500 survivors have been evacuated to shelters.

In Syria, the earthquake caused massive destruction and casualties. According to the most recent estimates, the number of people killed in Syria surpasses 1,600, while over 1,500 people were injured.