Argentina’s humanitarian aid mission to Turkey on Wednesday rescued three people in the Hatay metropolitan area, which was hardest hit by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, the Latin American country’s foreign ministry said.

Their rescue was achieved “nine days after the disaster” that caused tens of thousands of deaths, innumerable injuries and left a large part of the inhabitants of the affected area homeless, pointed out the services of the head of the Argentine diplomacy Santiago Cafiero.

The people who were rescued yesterday were two adults and a child, as part of joint operations with the Turkish disaster and emergency response service, the announcement clarified.

The rescuers participating in the mission belong to Argentina’s International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Service (under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Federal Police and the National Risk Management System (under the Ministry of Public Security).

Argentina “shares its pride and joy that this news, in the midst of a tremendous tragedy, allows us to embrace life, solidarity and hope,” the statement added.

Mr Cafiero praised via Twitter the “professionalism” and “solidarity” of Argentina’s mission in Turkey.