According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, 2 people have been rescued from the ruins of a residential building in Batumi and taken to the medical facility.
According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, about 10 citizens are trapped under the rubble.
Vakhtang Gomelauri made a comment on the recent developments in Batumi for the media representatives.
"I can confirm that two people were rescued, they are alive, but in poor condition, they are conscious, both of them were transferred to the hospital. We assume that the third citizen was also found but already deceased. The information is being clarified at the moment. We assume that approximately 7-8 people - not more than 10 should be under the rubble. We will work all night and tomorrow as well until we finalize the rescue operation.
There’s a large mass of ruins and rescuers have to be cautious, so that not to harm the survivors. It's a hard work I would like to outline, owning to the fact that the building is located right in between the two residential buildings. You can see that they are working from both sides, both equipment and tractors are actively involved in the operation. We do our best to clear up the area from these concrete panels as quickly as possible in order to provide assistance to the survivors and transfer them to the medical facility on time.
As for the children, we have the information that 2 or 3 children are caught under the debris as neighbors tell us, but nothing can be confirmed yet.
Two people have been rescued, they are in critical condition, but they are alive and conscious after being taken to the hospital. As I was told, rescuers have found the body of one person, however I am not able to confirm the information by 100 percent. What I can confirm is the fact that up to 10 people are trapped under the ruins" – stated the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri.
Intensive search-and-rescue operation as well as clear-up activities are still underway at the moment.
