Ghana winger Christian Atsu has been found alive after being buried under rubble in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, the vice president of his club Hatayspor told media on Tuesday.
Atsu was reported missing in Turkey’s Hatay province following the 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down over five thousand of building, killed over 5,000 people in several Turkish and Syrian cities and injured more than 24,000 people.
“Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble,” club vice president Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol.
“Update: We’ve received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment,” Ghana’s Football Association (GFA) said in a Twitter post.
“Let’s continue to pray for Christian.”
Atsu was receiving treatment but the GFA did not give details of any injuries.
Atsu, 31, played in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Everton, on loan from Chelsea, and joined Hatayspor in September. He was last selected to play for Ghana in 2019.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle player scored a 97th-minute winner for Turkish top-flight side Hatayspor on Sunday night as they beat Kasımpasa 1-0, but just hours later was reported missing following the 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down whole apartment blocks in several Turkish and Syrian cities.
The deadly earthquake that struck in the early hours of Monday was felt in Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
The quake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including an unusually powerful 7.5-magnitude quake, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
