By Michelle Crean

A Turkish man living in Killarney is urgently appealing for help following multiple earthquakes in his home country this week which has left over 21,000 dead.

Monday's devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake ripped through Turkey and Syria leaving thousands of people without shelter or food, and with just the clothes on their backs.

At least 26 staff of the Irish aid agency Goal have also died.

It's the biggest earthquake Turkey has experienced in over 200 years with 10 cities affected, according to well known Turkish barber Michael Kaya, who is urgently appealing to Killarney locals to donate what they can to help the people in his home country.

At least 6,400 buildings were destroyed in Turkey and approximately 30 percent of the area has been completely destroyed with the remaining 70% damaged. People desperate for food and basic goods have been forced to loot supermarkets as they await aid. Babies have been found alone in the city of Kahramanmaras and brought to hospital for treatment.

Michael, who is from Kuşadası, has been living in Killarney for 19 years and runs Michael's Barbers on High Street which is a busy and popular spot.

Upon hearing the news of the devastation to hit his country he put a call out for donations and has been overwhelmed by the response so far.

It's currently winter in Turkey with temperatures hitting minus four degrees.

He says people urgently needs hats, gloves, scarves, coats and shoes for all ages, blankets as well as nappies, baby food and hygiene products. He is not accepting money.

He plans to transport the goods to the Turkish Embassy in Dublin and they will then arrange for them to be transported to aid agencies.

He says he knows of people close to his family members who have died. Ergin Kuccuk who has lived in Tralee for two decades and currently works in The Rose Hotel lost both his parents this week. They had survived the initial earthquake and he spoke to them on the phone but they died soon after when another earthquake struck while they were inside their home.

"As a person from my home country I want to do my duty to help," Michael told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We had an earthquake in the early 2000s so I know what it feels like, the desperation especially in the cold winter. We want to give them a bit of hope. Irish people are very fair, I see that the last few years for the people of Ukraine."

He says he plans to drive to the embassy to drop off the goods.

"If anybody would like to donate any of the goods you can drop them into my shop 20 High Street, Killarney."

A second collection is being organised by Mary O'Leary.

She's calling on people to consider picking up similar items when shopping over the coming days.

She will be available on Monday evening at 7pm in the Cathedral car park, Killarney where people can drop the items off.

"I will park at the edge of the cathedral car park and will have my boot open so that people can easily drive by and drop off items that they want to donate," she told the Killarney Advertiser. "The items will be sent to the Dublin embassy on Tuesday so I will not be collecting any items after that."