Ahmet Kurtul is experiencing survivor's guilt after more than 100 of his friends perished in the deadly earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on Monday.
Mr Kurtul, a 57-year-old Australian businessman living in the eastern city of Osmaniye, said he was "devastated" at just how many of his friends died.
"We just feel shocked – still shocked at the moment," Mr Kurtul told the ABC.
"My neighbour's son has lost his life. And his grandchild — a two-year-old boy — lost his life as well.
"We are all devastated that there is nothing we can do."
Mr Kurtul, who lives about 100 kilometres from the earthquake's epicentre, said he and his five family members — including his two-year-old grandson — were "traumatised" when the quake struck.
"I thought we would be gone," Mr Kurtul said.
"It was shaking so badly. I was trying to get the kids together and just praying for god."
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed four Australians were missing in Türkiye while another 40 were provided consular assistance by the embassy in Ankara.
Sydney man Can Pahali was confirmed as the first Australian killed in the country's devastating earthquake. He was visiting family in Antakya in the country's south near the Syrian border.
At least 17,000 people have died in both Türkiye and Syria, with that number expected to rise further.
Five days after the quake struck, rescuers were still finding people alive beneath the rubble.
Frustration is growing because of a lack of equipment and rescue crews available to extract those trapped under the debris.
'I just didn't want to be selfish'
Mr Kurtul isn't a stranger to earthquakes. He survived the 1999 Türkiye earthquake that killed about 18,000 people.
Now more than 20 years later, the recent earthquake destroyed Mr Kurtul's curtain business in a city where about 400 buildings collapsed.
His daughter, who is also an Australian citizen, was still experiencing trauma days after the disaster happened, he said.
Mr Kurtul and his family rushed onto the street when the first earthquake hit. His family, along with thousands of others, were evacuated to a nearby military base the same day.
Only 25 Australians in his network were safe, Mr Kurtul said.
Mr Kurtul said he immediately contacted the Australian Embassy in Türkiye after the 1999 earthquake.
But he said he saw no need to contact them this time because he "didn't want to be selfish".
"I haven't contacted them, and they haven't contacted me," he said.
"In the 1999 earthquake, I was the first one to ring the Australian government.
"But this time I am not in need. I just didn't want to be selfish for myself."
A spokesperson from DFAT said the department was "working hard to assist family members concerned about their loved ones", and that it couldn't confirm the exact number of Australian citizens living in Türkiye and Syria.
"We are supporting around 50 other Australians and their families who were in the earthquake area and have asked for support with crisis accommodation, short-term loans and travel documents."
Australia 'could be doing more'
Yaqub Ismail Dent, a 20-year-old born and raised in Melbourne, is living in Türkiye's northern city of Çorum.
It's about 700 kilometres from Nurdağı, where the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck.
The La Trobe University student said the Australian community in his city is "very small" and he has had no contact with the Australian Embassy.
Mr Dent was heartened to hear that Australia was sending $10 million in humanitarian aid to Türkiye.
"I think, honestly, they're doing a lot," Mr Dent said.
"They could be doing more by sending humanitarian aid teams, surgeons, rescue teams.
"I don't think there's anything that they need to provide to the Australian community. I think they just need to focus more on the earthquake affected areas," he said.
"I know there's a very large [Australian] population towards Izmir, which is [on the] western side. But no one that's in western Türkiye would be affected by the earthquakes."
DFAT told the ABC that Australians affected by the earthquakes and the aftershocks are advised to "follow the directions of local authorities".
Australians in need of emergency consular assistance have been urged to contact the Australian government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia.
The UK government said three British citizens are missing in Türkiye, and that some 35 British nationals were being supported directly by its embassy.
The US said it will collaborate with Turkish authorities and other partner groups to help Americans in affected areas.
Quake hit regions desperate for aid
Mr Dent said he only moved to Türkiye last month and that the events of the past few days are still "very hard to describe".
He said while it was "lucky" there was no damage in his city, the earthquake was enough to frighten locals.
"Most people were afraid to go back into their apartments and they decided to go to the council's sports centre, where the council had provided blankets, pillows and sleeping areas, food, drinks," Mr Dent said.
Mr Dent said the earthquake made him want to stay in Türkiye for longer to help.
He's working as a volunteer at a local council, helping organise deliveries to affected towns and cities.
"I feel more useful over here just because I can translate. I can help more people over here," Mr Dent said.
He said earthquake survivors are in need of food, blankets, nappies, heaters, hygiene kits, tents and sleeping gear.
For Australians who want to help, Mr Dent said they could contribute to the Australian Red Cross and UNICEF Australia's Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal.
"For someone … in Australia, there are many places you can donate money to, such as Kızılay, which is the Turkish Red Crescent."
