Turkish earthquake: Send us your experiences

Rescue workers search through the rubble of a collapsed house in Afyon

Dozens of people were killed and many more injured when a powerful earthquake hit western Turkey.

Civil defence teams have gone to the scene and hospitals have created makeshift treatment areas in the open air.

The prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, has been touring the stricken region and military units have begun setting up tented camps.

It is not the first time Turkey has suffered. Two devastating earthquakes in 1999 killed more than 18,000 people and prompted strong criticism of the government's response.

What are scenes like in the towns and villages hit by the quake? Has your house been demolished or are you concerned about friends and relatives who may have been affected? How should the Turkish government and international community react?

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This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

We feel upset for those affected by the earthquake. All Afghans express our sympathy with our Turkish brothers.
Ahmad Javed and Hashmat, Afghanistan

The world community should always respond with help in any natural disaster that happens in any country. Those of us with resources need to share with those who do not. Turkey has been a great ally to the West and we need to respect that and offer all we can do.
Victoria McCurry, USA

I am a resident of Izmit, Kocaeli. We weathered a huge quake in 1999 and lost more than 20,000 people. People I had talked with in the neighbourhood the day before the fateful earthquake are now dead. I can not forget the smell of the corpses we carried to the local ice-skating building. The morgues were full. We had to stay in the streets during the nights because aftershocks were still threatening us. When the earthquake struck it felt like the end of the world - a horrible sound from underground and a forceful trembling.. like Armageddon. I wish no-one will have to suffer like we did.
Ahmet A Kozanoglu, Turkey

An earthquake is a natural disaster which can happen in any place. That's why whenever any part of the world is struck by an earthquake or any other natural disaster the countries of the whole world should unite and act together.
Amanullah Emran , Afghan living in Egypt

I am a Turkish citizen currently residing in the UK. I was in south-western Turkey during the 1999 quake and it was a shocking experience. I believe the Turkish government should raise funds for educating people on how to deal with an earthquake and improve building standards since I believe the lack of engineering standards was the main reason for the collapse of the buildings.
Alp Gursoy, UK