Armenian rescuers have been actively involved in search and rescue operations in the earthquake zone in Syria, managing to save the lives of 3 people from the rubble in Al-Shaar district of Aleppo city.

They also helped recovered 33 bodies, according to local media reports (via Pastinfo).

The Guardian said, meanwhile, that the death toll has now passed 21,000, exceeding the 20,000 that the World Health Organization initially projected when the quake first hit. The number of deaths is expected to climb in the coming days.

Rescue efforts are continuing for a fifth day in freezing conditions. Officials and medics said on Thursday, February 9 that 17,674 people had died in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria, bringing the confirmed total to 21,051.