An Ottery kebab shop owner has led an upsurge in community support for the earthquake victims in Turkey.

The huge earthquake struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, in the early hours of Monday, February 6. At least 16,000 people are now known to have been killed in the two countries.

Shocked at the news of the disaster, Omer Akbulut of the Charcoal Grill Kebab House announced on Monday that he would donate all of the day’s takings to the earthquake victims.

Local residents rallied around to boost the takings with further donations, and he collected £760 in just four hours, which he sent to the Luton Turkish Community Association on Tuesday (February 7).

Omer then posted an update giving ‘huge thanks’ to everyone who had supported his appeal, saying: “Very proud all of you guys, what a great community we have, proud to be live in this town, love you all.”

He added that he was also inviting donations of clothes, blankets, nappies and other essentials for Turkey, which he would take to a collection point in Taunton on Tuesday night. Again, offers of help flooded in, with residents rushing to drop off bags of items including sleeping bags and children’s clothes and toys at the takeaway in Mill Street before he left.

Many others couldn’t get their donations to Omer in time, so he is now planning another delivery to the collection point next week. Among those offering support was Teresa Loynd from Woolbrook News in Sidmouth, who has been collecting for Ukraine for the past year. She said she has a store full of blankets and warm clothing which she could bring to Ottery at the end of this week.

Omer told the Herald all his friends and family in Turkey are safe, but he wanted to do everything he could for the people suffering in the earthquake zone.

He said: “May god help everybody in Turkiye, I would like to thank everybody in Ottery St Mary community, proud to be living here, please donate generously financially, the earthquake victims need us we cannot be silent.”

He is encouraging anyone who cannot contribute to his own collections to donate to the emergency relief appeal via GoFundMe.