According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, no information has been received by the Embassy or Consulate about the citizens of Georgia affected by the earthquake in Turkey.

As InterPressNews was informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a hotline has been activated relating to the earthquake.

"No notification has been received either by the Georgian Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul. Both the Consulate and the Embassy are in constant contact with the relevant agencies of Turkey.

A hotline has been activated in the Embassy and Consulates of Georgia in Istanbul and Trabzon. Georgian citizens in Turkey, if necessary, can contact: Embassy of Georgia in Ankara +905336903040; +905392208280; Consulate General in Istanbul +905418184400; Consulate General in Trabzon +905413262226.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the diplomatic missions of Georgia once again express their deep sorrow for the incident and express their solidarity with the Turkish Government and the population," reads the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A powerful earthquake hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing more than 500 people and trapping many others this morning.