THOUSANDS of pounds have been sent from the Wee County to aid earthquake disaster relief in Turkey, thanks to generous donors and a business.

The Rotary Club of Alloa, working with counterparts in the club of Kyrenia Liman in northern Cyprus who are sending lorries of supplies directly to southern Turkey, has sent nearly £3,000 for aid so far.

The Alloa club has utilised £1,000 of club funds to send immediate relief and this was recently augmented by generous Wee County shoppers with £1,800 of donations collected at Asda and Morrisons.

Adding to the funds, the Rotary Club of Stirling has sent £2,500 – taking the wider area's total to £5,300.

With the funds collected, Alloa Rotary president Alun Morgan thanked shoppers for “digging deep when times are difficult” and he also revealed that a company has chipped in to nearly double that amount.

He added: “We are now delighted to announce that Beatson's Building Supplies have just donated a whacking £10,000 to this campaign.

“Alloa Rotary is sincerely grateful for this massive boost.

“Are there any other local businesses who could also help?”

As previously reported, two powerful earthquakes struck southern and central Turkey along with northern and western Syria around a month ago.

A man rides a motorbike past destroyed buildings in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The death toll in Turkey and Syria rose to eight in a new and powerful earthquake that struck two weeks after a devastating temblor killed nearly

A man rides a motorbike past destroyed buildings in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. The death toll in Turkey and Syria rose to eight in a new and powerful earthquake that struck two weeks after a devastating temblor killed nearly

The first quake, registering 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale, was the strongest to occur since 1939 and killed an estimated 50,000 people, injuring countless more.

Rotarian Celia Norton, convener of international service at the Alloa club, has been in touch with former business contact and fellow Rotarian Gultach Oszan, a senior member in northern Cyprus, ever since.

She said: “Gultach sent us the horrible news that some 50 young people and their teachers from his community on a visit to Turkey have been killed under a collapsed hotel.

“Through the Rotary network we can immediately send funds to help people in crisis, safe in the knowledge that Rotarians at the disaster area will ensure it is wisely and quickly used where need is greatest.

“This is all organised by Rotarians in the affected districts and so all funds go to where they are needed and with the local knowledge of what is needed.”

President Alun said the crisis will be ongoing for many months, even years.

Since the initial earthquakes, another two occurred on February 20 and 27.

It is believed around 18 million people are affected and many are in need of shelter, food and medical aid.

Alun added: “We have all seen on television these horrific scenes of destruction happening in southern Turkey and northern Syria.

“We are appealing to the people of Clackmannanshire to help Alloa Rotary send further funds by donating via bit.ly/RotaryEarthquakeAppeal or using the QR code pictured.

“And thank you in advance.”