An emergency Turkey and Syria earthquake appeal launched by Australian-based Intrepid Travel raised more than A$45,000 in its first 24 hours.
The update came as a national emergency was declared in ten provinces in Turkey after massive earthquakes struck the region and northern Syria on Monday.
More than 9,500 people are reported to have been killed but numbers are expected to multiply.
Intrepid, which is partnering with the Australian Red Cross, said: “With widespread destruction, many still trapped beneath rubble, thousands displaced, and relentless winter temperatures set to drop below zero, the needs of the people in Turkey and Syria are growing minute by minute.
“With several aftershocks felt as far and wide as Cairo, Cyprus, Lebanon and even Greenland, the disaster has turned entire neighbourhoods in Turkey and Syria to rubble.”
The British Red Cross is one of the first major UK charities to launch an aid appeal.
It is working in conjunction with the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent on the ground to provide urgent support and evacuate people to safety.
Other appeals have been instigated by organisations including Oxfam, Save the Children and Unicef.
A UK team of 77 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment arrived to join the global emergency response on Tuesday together with an emergency medical team.
They were dispatched to Gaziantep in south-east Turkey, hit first by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake before a 7.5 magnitude quake struck the neighbouring province of Kahramanmaras.
Several strong after-shocks followed, hampering rescue efforts amid freezing winter conditions.
The Turkish government has announced a national emergency in the ten affected provinces.
The Foreign Office identified these in an updated travel advisory as being Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Sanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adana.
“The Turkish government has stated that only vehicles which carry aid teams and aid materials will be allowed to enter cities deemed to be inside the area of the disaster,” the alert added.
“If you are in Turkey or planning to travel there you should follow the information and advice from local authorities/your tour operator.
“If you’re in the Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras or neighbouring provinces and it is safe to do so, contact your friends and family to tell them you are safe.”
Pegasus Airlines is offering free Turkish domestic flights to help evacuate people from the earthquake zone.
Flights departing from Adana, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Kayseri, Malatya and Şanlıurfa airports can be booked free of charge until February 12
The budget carrier is also providing free transportation for aid delivered to Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul in co-ordination with the Turkish Red Crescent, Kizilay.
The airline said: “To support the regions affected by the earthquake, we are also continuing our efforts in co-ordination with AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) and official aid authorities to deliver emergency supplies to the regions and evacuate those who are affected.”
To donate to the Intrepid appeal, visit Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Appeal