Ghana international winger Christian Atsu has been found alive but with injuries after being buried under rubble in the earthquake that hit Turkey, the vice president of his football club has told the media. Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor, was reported missing in Turkey’s Hatay province following the magnitude 7.8 quake and its aftershocks that brought down thousands of buildings, killing some 5,000 people, in several Turkish and Syrian cities on Monday.
“Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble,” club vice president Mustafa Ozak told Radyo Gol on Tuesday.
"Hatay was deeply affected. We are coming towards the end of the most dangerous hours," he added.
The club's sporting director Taner Savut remains in the collapsed building from where Atsu was pulled out.
The ex-Ghana forward, 31, has won 65 times for Ghana, joined Hatayspor in September 2022 after a season with Saudi Arabian team Al-Raed.
More than 5,000 people have been killed after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria during the early hours of Monday morning, followed by a second of 7.5.
Officials say as many as 1,500 buildings were destroyed in Hatay province.
