Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone users urged to turn in their handsets as soon as possible

The technology company is recalling the smartphones worldwide after several dozen of them caught fire

Samsung has suspended sales of its latest high-end smartphone Galaxy Note 7 after reports of exploding batteries (Getty)

Samsung Electronics is recalling its new Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in 10 markets including South Korea and the United States after several dozen of them caught fire.

In a statement posted on its South Korean website, the technology giant advised local users to visit the company's service centers to receive rental phones for temporary use.

In the UK, Samsung is offering a device exchange for customers who have purchased a Galaxy Note 7 and will start to send out new units from 19 August.

“We again express our sincere apologies to our customers who value our products,” the South Korean company said in a statement.

Samsung is planning to recall 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phones worldwide, according to Reuters.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday warned airline passengers not to turn on or charge Galaxy Note 7s during flights and also not to put the smartphone in their checked bags.

The company has confirmed 35 cases of its devices catching fire, most of them occurring while the battery was being charged.

Samsung released the jumbo smartphone on 19 August.