Former Premier League forward Christian Atsu is said to be trapped after massive earthquake in Turkey.
According to reports, the incident took place on Monday, February 6, 2023, and involved Atsu as well as over 1,500 people who were killed.
The powerful tremor jolted residents from their beds, and the earthquake was felt as far away as Lebanon and Israel. The death toll has risen to over 1,500, with rescue efforts underway to save survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
In Turkey, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) has reported at least 1,014 deaths and several thousand injuries. Meanwhile, in Syria, at least 592 people have died, with 371 deaths reported primarily in the regions of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, and Tartus.
The Syrian state news agency SANA also reported 1,089 injuries. The opposition-controlled northwestern Syria, which is mostly controlled by anti-government forces, was also affected, with the “White Helmets” group reporting 221 deaths and 419 injuries.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was located 14.2 miles east of Nurdagi in Turkey’s Gaziantep province and had a depth of 14.9 miles. Around nine hours later, a major aftershock with a magnitude of 7.5 struck in Turkey, located 59 miles north of the original quake.
Videos from the scene in Turkey showed collapsed buildings, with people huddled in the freezing cold waiting for help, and exposed apartments in the aftermath of the quake. The earthquake is believed to be the strongest to hit Turkey since 1939, when a similar magnitude earthquake killed 30,000 people.
With fewer than five earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater occurring each year on average globally, Monday’s earthquake was rare and the most powerful of seven to hit Turkey in the past 25 years.
However, another report from journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu and other Turkish media outlets, while several Hatayspor players have been rescued following the earthquake, Atsu and club sporting director Taner Savut are still missing, and a search and rescue operation is underway.
In reacting to sad occurrences, Atsu’s former club Newcastle United tweeted: “Praying for some positive news, Christian Atsu.”.
Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20. 🙏🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/HQT6yZOmRB
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 6, 2023
