More than 1,400 complaints about Capital Radio DJ Ant Payne’s ‘insensitive and ill-timed’ joke about earthquake-hit Turkey have now been made to Ofcom

• Radio DJ Ant Payne’s joke about Turkey’s earthquakes met with 1,430 complaints
• The present mused ‘now is actually the best time’ to get cheap flights to Turkey

The number of complaints made to Ofcom about Capital Radio DJ Ant Payne’s ‘insensitive’ joke about earthquake-hit Turkey has risen to 1,430.

The presenter, who hosts the 4pm to 7pm slot on the station, said while on-air on Monday February 13 that ‘now is actually the best time’ to start looking for ‘cheap flights’ to the country.

He also joked that listeners could ‘get your teeth done while you are over there’ and ‘come back looking 19-years-old’, adding: ‘You will be on Love Island next year if you are doing that.’

Another 863 complaints were made to the broadcasting watchdog between February 14 and 20, in addition to the 567 made before that point.

Some 45,000 people were killed after two earthquakes struck nine hours apart in south-eastern Turkey and Syria on February 6, before another quake occurred on Monday this week.

The number of complaints made to Ofcom about Capital Radio DJ Ant Payne’s ‘insensitive’ joke about earthquake-hit Turkey has risen to 1,430

Around 45,000 people died two weeks ago when Turkey was hit with three devastating earthquakes close to the Syrian border, with another tremor on Monday

Payne previously apologised after facing criticism on social media, with Liberal Democrat councillor Suzanne Nuri-Nixon urging him to ‘read the room’.

READ MORE: UNDER FIRE DJ ANT PAYNE ‘WON’T BE SACKED’ FROM CAPITAL FM 

He tweeted: ‘Hi guys, I want to address the comment I made last night on the show.

‘It was insensitive and ill-timed. I would never wish to offend anyone from my shows. My sincere and wholehearted apologies.’

Payne was previously a presenter on Galaxy FM before joining Capital Radio in January 2011.

 Capital Radio’s parent company Global has been contacted for comment.

On Monday, it was reported a new 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck the same parts of Turkey and Syria that were laid waste two weeks ago by a massive tremor that killed around 45,000 people.

Officials said three people are confirmed to have died in today’s tremor after more buildings collapsed, trapping occupants, and several people were injured in both countries.

Today’s earthquake was centred in the town of Defne, in Turkey’s Hatay province, one of the worst-hit regions in the magnitude 7.8 quake that hit on February 6.

It was felt in Syria, Jordan, Israel and as far away as Egypt, and was followed by a second magnitude 5.8 quake.

A number of buildings collapsed in the new quake, trapping people inside, Hatay’s mayor Lutfu Savas said.

A member of Turkish police special forces carries a wounded man after an earthquake in Antakya

Members of Turkish police special forces carry another wounded man after today’s earthquake in Antakya

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Turkish and Syrian border just two weeks after around 45,000 people were killed in a series of tremors

Muna Al Omar said she was in a tent in a park in central Antakya when the latest quake hit.

‘I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet,’ she said, crying as she held her 7-year-old son in her arms.

Two witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antakya which was hit by two massive earthquakes two weeks ago, causing tens of thousands of deaths and destroying buildings and infrastructure.

Other witnesses said Turkish rescue teams were running around after the latest quake, checking people were unharmed.

Thousands of Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their homes in northwest Syria to get in touch with relatives affected by the devastation.

At the Turkish Cilvegozu border crossing, hundreds of Syrians lined up starting early today to cross.

Mustafa Hannan, who dropped off his pregnant wife and 3-year-old son, said he saw about 350 people waiting.

The 27-year-old car electrician said his family was leaving for a few months after their home in Antakya collapsed, taking up a pledge by authorities allowing them to spend up to six months in Syria without losing the chance to return to Turkey.

‘I’m worried they won’t be allowed back,’ he said. ‘We’ve already been separated from our nation. Are we going to be separated from our families now too? If I rebuild here but they can’t return, my life will be lost.’

Civilians in Reyhanli wait in the middle of the streets after a hurried evacuation

A man talks on a cell phone while watching as emergency service workers search a collapsed building for the bodies of three people that were killed

A woman in a wheelchair is evacuated from her home shortly after today’s 6.4 magnitude earthquake

A soldier carries a man to safety after he was injured in the latest earthquake in Hatay, Turkey

Emergency workers surround a building destroyed in today’s tremor in Hatay

Personnel conduct search and rescue operations inside a collapsed building in Antakya

A man holds his head in his hand as he sits outside the rubble as emergency services conduct a search operation

Members of rescue teams work on a collapsed building after a new 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck in Hatay

A 6.3-magnitude quake struck near the town of Uzunbag in Turkey’s Hatay Province and was felt in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt

Emergency workers explore a collapsed building in Antakya district of Hatay following 6.4 magnitude earthquake today

Officers inspect a partially collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck earlier today

The rear of one building caved in as a result of today’s earthquake, just two weeks after the region was devastated by tremors killing 45,000 people

Turkan Akbas, 40, a solicitor from Hackney, Greater London, and a spokesperson for the British Turkish Association, based in Luton, said: ‘Life will never be the same again.’

Ms Akbas said she lost relatives, including her cousin and her cousin’s five-year-old triplets, in the earthquake on February 6.

‘I am devastated,’ she said after news broke of today’s earthquake. ‘I am just worried about everyone back home.

‘Life will never be the same again… (I have) lost too many loved ones, and sad to see Turkey in the state it is currently in, but we will overcome this with the support of the whole world who have come together to support us.’

Ms Akbas said the BTA will continue to send aid including tents, blankets, baby food and hygiene supplies and is raising money to buy container houses for people who have lost their homes.

‘The 6.4 earthquake today followed by 5.8 magnitude aftershock has caused further buildings to collapse and three deaths and 213 injuries are confirmed at this time, which are expected to rise,’ she said.

‘The earthquake has been felt in other parts of the countries but has mainly impacted Hatay.

‘The BTA charity Save1Life has sent a search, rescue and medical team together with medical supplies to Turkey to assist AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) on the ground.

‘They have returned to the UK after one week of deployment.

‘The BTA are now trying to raise funds to purchase container houses to those who have lost their homes and are living in dire weather conditions in the regions affected by the earthquake.’

Tom Colley, a member of HelpAge International’s humanitarian response team who is in Gaziantep, described today’s scene as ‘very distressing’.

Mr Colley was in a meeting when the earthquake struck and was advised to stay in his hotel.

‘People are very frightened and are leaving the buildings, fearing the worst,’ he said.

‘Many are still in precarious circumstances after the earthquake a fortnight ago. This is very distressing.’

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