Former Chelsea and Newcastle United player Christian Atsu is reported to be among the many trapped under the rubble after Turkey and Syria were hit by a deadly earthquake in the wee hours on Monday. A search and rescue operation is underway as the country was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. Although no official data has been released but it is claimed that over 1000 people lost their lives in the disaster. (Follow: Latest developments from Turkey, Syria earthquakes)
Atsu, who has made 65 appearances for Ghana, joined Super Lig club Hatayspor last summer. As per reports, several members of his team also had to be rescued but Atsu is yet to be found. The report further stated that team’s sporting director, Taner Savut, is also feared to be trapped under the rubble.
Atsu arrived at Stamford Bridge as an emerging talent back in 2013 from Porto but didn’t make a single Premier League appearance in Chelsea colours. He spent two loan spells at Everton and Bournemouth before signing permanent deal with Newcastle in 2017.
Atsu made over 100 appearances for the Magpies before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2021, where he represented Al-Raed. His stay in the middle east country was a short one as he shifted his base to Turkey, where he joined Hatayspor.
In fact, Atsu had scored a late winner in Hatayspor’s Super Lig tie against Kasımpaşa just hours before the earthquake struck the country.
Hatayspor is not the only team to be affected by the earthquake. Several other footballers and sportsperson have been caught in the chaos. The spouse of Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel shared an emotional message on social media. “Hatay is in a very bad way,” said Zeynep Sever Demirel in a video shared on Instagram.
Turkey goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan, who plays for Yeni Malatyaspor, was also among the many trapped under the rubble. The club shared a photo of him on social media, and wrote: “Our prayers are with you”.
Meanwhile reports of Marasspor players staying in a hotel wrecked by the quake have also emerged. It is also feared that a men’s volleyball team and a girls’ under-14 volleyball team have also been severely impacted with the disaster, as some of the survivors were rescued from the rubble.
A hosts of wrestlers are also feared to be trapped. Taha Akgul, Rio Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist wrestler from Turkey, pleaded for help on social media, claiming that around 30-40 athletes have been affected.
Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Turkey was struck with a second jolt while the rescue operation were underway. The second tremors were measured at 7.5 on the Richter scale and as per fresh development the country experienced a third jolt of 6.0 magnitude.