Ghana’s international winger, Christian Atsu, is believed to be caught in the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 2,000 people on Monday.
The 31-year-old Ghanaian footballer, who now plays for Hatayspor in Turkey, was reported missing along with the club’s sporting director, Taner Savut, after club players and staff were rescued from the rubble.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit south-east Turkey and northern Syria during the early hours of Monday morning, followed by a second of 7.5 struck at 1.24pm (1024 GMT), two-and-a-half miles southeast of the town of Ekinozu and around 60 miles north of the first quake that has wrought devastation across Turkey and Syria.
Approximately 1,700 people are known to have died in the border region.
Hundreds are still believed to be trapped under rubble on both sides of the border as a result of the first earthquake, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search through mounds of wreckage for families crushed in their sleep.
Orhan Tatar, an official from the Turkish disaster agency, told reporters that the two quakes were independent of each other.
He said hundreds of aftershocks were expected after both. Tremors were felt as far away as Greenland.
Ghanaians Shocked
The news of Atsu’s trapping under the rubbles in the devastating earthquakes sent shivers down fans in the country yesterday, with prayers said for him by many, including President Akufo-Addo.
Presidential Message
In a message, the President expressed his condolences to the people of Turkey and prayed for the Ghanaian footballer.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound,” President Akufo-Addo indicated in the message shared on social media.
GFA
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) also urged supporters to “pray” for the former forward for Chelsea and Newcastle trapped under Turkish earthquake-related debris.
“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria,” the GFA stated in a tweet.
Rescue Effort
“We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hatayspor and the Turkish Football Federation, considering the difficult situation,” it added.
Newcastle have also expressed their support for receiving “some good news.”
BY Kofi Owusu Aduonum