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Former Chelsea winger Christian Atsu has been found alive under the rubble of the buildings that were left in the wake of a major earthquake in Turkey and Syria that has reportedly left dead over 3,000 people and rising.
On Monday morning, the news of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit the country, leaving over 1700 buildings razed to the ground. Soon after, Ghanaian international footballer Atsu, who plays for Turkish club Hayatspor a night after he scored a stoppage-time goal for his team.
Atsu was stuck in the rubble alongside sporting director Taner Savut, and the club's spokesperson Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol: “Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble.
Rescue teams are continuing to search the area for survivors in freezing conditions, with the hope being that more can be saved.
After starting his professional career, Atsu spent five seasons at English outfit Newcastle United before leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2021. "Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20," they said on Twitter
The 65-time internationally capped Ghanaian also received support from his national team. "We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria," the Ghana Football Association said on Twitter.
Multi-storey apartment buildings full of residents were among the many structures reduced to dust in Turkey. Even in Syria, dozens of structures have collapsed, including damage to archaeological sites in Aleppo.
