Former Chelsea and Newcastle United participant Christian Atsu is reported to be among the many many trapped underneath the rubble after Turkey and Syria had been hit by a lethal earthquake within the wee hours on Monday. A search and rescue operation is underway because the nation was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. Though no official information has been launched however it’s claimed that over 1000 individuals misplaced their lives within the catastrophe. (Observe: Newest developments from Turkey, Syria earthquakes)
Atsu, who has made 65 appearances for Ghana, joined Tremendous Lig membership Hatayspor final summer season. As per experiences, a number of members of his crew additionally needed to be rescued however Atsu is but to be discovered. The report additional said that crew’s sporting director, Taner Savut, can also be feared to be trapped underneath the rubble.
Atsu arrived at Stamford Bridge as an rising expertise again in 2013 from Porto however did not make a single Premier League look in Chelsea colors. He spent two mortgage spells at Everton and Bournemouth earlier than signing everlasting cope with Newcastle in 2017.
Atsu remodeled 100 appearances for the Magpies earlier than shifting to Saudi Arabia in 2021, the place he represented Al-Raed. His keep within the center east nation was a brief one as he shifted his base to Turkey, the place he joined Hatayspor.
In actual fact, Atsu had scored a late winner in Hatayspor’s Tremendous Lig tie in opposition to Kasımpaşa simply hours earlier than the earthquake struck the nation.
Hatayspor isn’t the one crew to be affected by the earthquake. A number of different footballers and sportsperson have been caught within the chaos. The partner of Hatayspor supervisor Volkan Demirel shared an emotional message on social media. “Hatay is in a really unhealthy means,” stated Zeynep Sever Demirel in a video shared on Instagram.
Turkey goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan, who performs for Yeni Malatyaspor, was additionally among the many many trapped underneath the rubble. The membership shared a photograph of him on social media, and wrote: “Our prayers are with you”.
In the meantime experiences of Marasspor gamers staying in a lodge wrecked by the quake have additionally emerged. Additionally it is feared {that a} males’s volleyball crew and a ladies’ under-14 volleyball crew have additionally been severely impacted with the catastrophe, as a few of the survivors had been rescued from the rubble.
A hosts of wrestlers are additionally feared to be trapped. Taha Akgul, Rio Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist wrestler from Turkey, pleaded for assistance on social media, claiming that round 30-40 athletes have been affected.
Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Turkey was struck with a second jolt whereas the rescue operation had been underway. The second tremors had been measured at 7.5 on the Richter scale and as per contemporary growth the nation skilled a 3rd jolt of 6.0 magnitude.