Turkish man in Scarbrough 'grateful for all support from UK' so far
Mehmet has lived in Scarborough since 2000 and is originally from Şanlıurfa in Turkey
A man from Turkey, who has been in Scarborough for 23 years, says the devastation of the earthquake is a tragedy.
Mehmet is from Şanlıurfa, one of the cities badly hit by the tremors.
He owns a convenience store on Victoria Road in Scarborough and said: "When I first heard, one of my friends called me at 2.30am and said 'quickly ring your mum and brothers because there's been a massive earthquake in your hometown'. Obviously I was asleep and I was shocked. I instantly rang my parents but they were fine, worried and they were out in the streets in minus three or four degrees wrapped in blankets.
"I've been in an earthquake myself but mine wasn't this bad. I can't describe this one. I cannot describe unless you're from that region. I mean no matter what I say it's a tragedy. A full, full tragedy.
"My sisters are fine but it's not all about my parents, my brothers or my sisters. It's about the whole lot. Some of my friends are dead, some of my friends' children are dead. I really can't describe it.
Mehmet has been speaking to Greatest Hits Radio's Karen Liu:
Mehmet added: "We can't get there. There are no aeroplanes going and it's snowing there at the moment, minus five or six degrees, roads are split and blocked. There are people trying to get there by their own power because the Government is too busy trying to help everybody. They're doing the best they can.
"I won't be heading back until the Government gives us the thumbs up and says it's safe to travel. But they're advising us to not travel beacuse it's overcrowded with too much panicking going on. We need to organise, co-ordinate and try to get the dead bodies from the rubble.
"On behalf of my own people and on behalf of my own country, I cannot describe how appreciative I am. I'd like to say thank you ever so much to every single soul in this country."