In less than 3 hours, the 1st helicopter was already taking part in the rescue operation in the disaster area - thermal drones were working all night, said today Temur Mgebrishvili, the Head of the Emergency Management Service.

“Helicopters were mobilized from both Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Due to the meteorological conditions, the helicopter mobilized together with the emergency response team could not be involved in Kutaisi. Two border police helicopters departed from Tbilisi for the rescue operation. In less than three hours, the first helicopter was already participating in the rescue operation in the disaster zone.

The acting Minister of Internal Affairs and the Deputy Minister went to the disaster area, the heads of the Emergency Management Service went to the scene of the accident. The helicopter involved in the rescue operations flew to the area of the disaster, in rather difficult meteorological conditions and evacuated 70 people from the area.

On the very first night of the disaster, thermal drones worked throughout the night, and the involvement of aviation in the search activities was impossible due to security measures, considering the terrain and the communication towers located in the area of the disaster”, - said Temur Mghebrishvili.