Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu has been pulled out alive after being buried under rubble in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey on Monday morning.
Atsu – who plays for Hatayspor in the Super Lig – was reported missing in the violent earthquake that struck various cities in the Turkey as well as Syria, killing more than 5,000 people so far, injuring more than 20,000 people and destroying more than 5,600 buildings.
Rescue efforts have been underway since the earthquake began with Hatayspor players Burak Oksuz and Bertug Yildirim earlier rescued likewise Ekrem Eksioglu and Osman Ates who are said to be in good health.
The club’s vice present Mustafa Ozak confirmed to local Turkish radio that Atsu was pulled out injured but sporting director, Taner Savut is yet to be pulled out.
“Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble,” Ozak told Radyo Gol.
🎙️ Doç. Dr. Hatayspor Yöneticisi Mustafa Özat:
“Christian Atsu yaralı olarak çıkarıldı. Sportif direktörümüz Taner Savut, maalesef hala enkaz altında. Hatay çok etkilendi. En tehlikeli saatlerin sonuna doğru geliyoruz."@Emre_Tilev
@cihandisli— Radyo Gol (@radyogol) February 7, 2023
Atsu – who is now reportedly receiving treatment in hospital for his injuries – scored a late free kick that secured a 1-0 win for Hatayspor over Kasimpasa on Sunday, his first goal for the club.
The 31-year-old was previously on the books of Chelsea and Newcastle United and has been capped 65 times for the Ghana national team, picking up a silver medal at 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
