Two Spartan aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force loaded with four tons of humanitarian aid left for Turkiye, the BTA reported. Another rescue team boarded the planes to join the search and rescue operations. A civil engineer and two construction workers will tunnel through the collapsed buildings to help rescuers continue the search.

Later on Saturday, the Spartan planes will take the first rescue team of the Bulgarian Red Cross, their rescue dogs and some firefighters back to Bulgaria. The remaining teams of Bulgaria’s Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate continue to search for survivors in the town of Besni.

Bulgaria is sending pillows and bedding sets with the two military aircraft, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov said. In his words, Bulgaria is ready to send more planes and to fly more medics to quake-hit Turkiye. Bulgaria coordinates each flight with the requests of Turkiye, Admiral Eftimov said and noted that the rescuers and volunteers working there deserve recognition.