A city restaurant owner has revealed that his mother has died and his father is in hospital after the devastating earthquake in Turkey.
Soner Karali's family have also seen their homes destroyed in the devastating natural disaster, which has so far claimed 11,000 lives, with some of his cousins still missing.
The 48-year-old runs Antep Kitchen in Dereham Road and is calling for people to support his homeland through financial donations after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours of February 6.
That includes Mr Karali's mother Cenet Karali, 70, and his father Sevket Karali, 75, remains in critical condition after their home was reduced to rubble in the Nurdagi district of Gaziantep at around 4am on Monday.
The city was the epicentre of the first tremor.
Mr Karali, a father-of-three who lives in Norwich, said: "I'm in shock. It happened quickly. My uncle, who lives close to my parents, was waking up for prayers and then felt the earth shaking.
READ MORE: Council forcing pub popular with Canaries fans to take down marquee
"My aunt and uncle turned their back on their home and then it was gone.
"My uncle rescued my father, who was covered in blocks. My mum was sleeping during the earthquake."
His mother was trapped under rubble for eight hours before neighbours pulled her out, by which time she had died.
The restaurateur also had a 12-year-old relative who died in a separate property and he is fearful for around 20 of his relatives who live around Gaziantep including five young cousins, some as young as eight, who are missing.
Other relatives are camping in cars or tents.
In an impassioned plea, Mr Karali, who is donating restaurant takings to support relatives in Turkey, said: "It has caused major damage to families."
He added it was vital for people in the wider community to help through financial aid, with Red Cross teams mobilised in Turkey and Syria.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here