Earthquakes

CHRISITAN Atsu’s agent is desperately waiting for updates on the ex-Chelsea star after he was rescued from a collapsed building in Turkey.The dad, 31, was left buried under piles of rubble for more than 24 hours after two powerful earthquakes hit the country, killing more than 7,800 people.
Christian Atsu was rescued after being under rubble in an earthquakeCredit: Getty
Hatay was badly rocked by the earthquakes on MondayCredit: Reuters
Former Newcastle defender Atsu is understood to have been on the ninth floor of an apartment block in Hatay when a 7.8 magnitude quake rocked the city at 4am local time on Monday.
Several of his Hatayspor teammates were dramatically rescued from their homes, but Atsu and sporting director Taner Savut remained missing as a second quake struck shortly before 1.30pm.
But on Tuesday, the club’s vice president Mustafa Ozat confirmed Atsu had been pulled from the rubble alive.
His agent Nana Sechere, however, said they now have an agonising wait for updates as the city has been left in ruins with very little communication.
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He told Ghana radio station Happy FM: “Just to paint you a picture, Hatay is a very small city and hardly anyone speaks English.
“Right now, the whole city has been devastated they are in a state of emergency.
“It means the hospitals are inundated with people, injured people, people who are dying.
“Even if Atsu is in the hospital, there is no way of communicating with Atsu.
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“In addition to this, all the phone lines are all dead, so just a few people are able to contact these club members.”
It is understood Ghana ace Atsu was found by rescuers who heard his voice in the rubble.
Hatayspor spokesman Mustafa Ozat earlier said: “Christian Atsu was taken out with injuries.
“Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble.”
Atsu, who has three kids with wife Marie-Claire, plays for Hatayspor, who he joined last summer.
Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto for £3.5million in 2013 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Premier League giants.
Atsu took in loans at Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
And the Magpies made his deal permanent in 2017 after Atsu played a key role in their promotion from the Championship.
The ace ended up making 86 appearances for Newcastle before joining Al-Raed in 2021.

Atsu moved to Hatayspor last summer and has one goal in four games.
It comes as three Brits are among the 20,000 feared dead after catastrophic quakes rocked Turkey and Syria.
A massive 7.8 magnitude shock – one of the biggest for 100 years – was followed hours later by another huge 7.5 magnitude quake on Monday.
Then on Tuesday, another 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck.
Horror pictures from Turkey show the devastation after tower blocks collapsed – crushing and trapping people inside.
A baby born under the earthquake rubble in Syria was rescued just minutes after entering the world.
The tot was pulled to safety after her courageous mother delivered the little girl under the weight of a wrecked building.
The pregnant woman is believed to have been trapped under the debris for over a day in the northeastern town of Jenderes.
Sadly she reportedly died shortly after giving birth to the child surrounded by the devastation of Turkey’s terrifying earthquakes.
It comes as the World Health Organisation has warned the death toll could rocket to more than 20,000 as rescuers find more victims in the rubble.
So far, more than 7,800 people have been confirmed dead.
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Turkish authorities say 5,894 people have been killed, while in Syria more than 1,900 have died in government and opposition-held areas.
More than 24,400 emergency personnel are helping to find survivors among the debris of the demolished cities.
A woman pulled from a building in KahramanmarasCredit: Reuters
Hundreds of building across Turkey collapsedCredit: Getty More

FORMER Chelsea star Christian Atsu is still missing after becoming trapped under rubble in a huge earthquake, his teammate claims.It is understood the dad was on the ninth floor of an apartment block when two earthquakes rocked Turkey on Monday, devastating at least 12 cities and killing thousands.
Christian Atsu became buried under rubble during an earthquakeCredit: Getty
Thousands of people have died after two powerful earthquakesCredit: Getty
Rescuers are desperately trying to find Ghana star Atsu after he was caught up in the first powerful 7.8 magnitude quake.
Several members of his new team had to be rescued from their homes after the earthquake struck at 4am local time.
But Atsu, 31, and Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut were reported missing under rubble.
Reports claimed Atsu had been found early in the evening, but these were dismissed by Hatayspor manager Mustafa Ozat.
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His Hatayspor teammate Kerim Alici also appeared to suggest in an Instagram story posted that Atsu and Savut remained missing.
Atsu, who has three kids with wife Marie-Claire, plays for Hatayspor, who he joined last summer.
The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor are based.
Earlier in the evening, Ozat said: “All members of the playing body and staff are accounted for, except Christian Atsu and Taner Savut, who are still under the rubber.
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“We are still trying to reach them.”
Newcastle and Chelsea are anxiously awaiting news of their former player.
A post on Newcastle’s official Twitter account said: “Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”
While Chelsea tweeted: “We’re praying for you, Christian Atsu.”
Atsu, who scored deep into stoppage time on Saturday to secure a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa, left St James’ Park during the summer of 2021 after making 121 appearances for the club.
He joined Chelsea from Porto for £3.5million in 2013 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Premier League giants.
Atsu took in loans at Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
And the Magpies made his deal permanent in 2017 after Atsu played a key role in their promotion from the Championship.
The ace ended up making 86 appearances for Newcastle before joining Al-Raed in 2021.
Atsu moved to Hatayspor last summer and has one goal in four games for the Turks.
It comes as many thousands are feared dead after two “once-in-a-century” earthquakes rocked Turkey and Syria today.
A massive 7.8 magnitude shock – one of the biggest for 100 years – was followed hours later by another huge 7.5 magnitude quake.
Frantic survivors used their bare hands to dig through the rubble of flattened homes and were filmed pulling children to safety amid scenes of utter destruction.
The twin earthquakes also sparked tsunami alerts on Mediterranean coasts in Greece, Cyprus and Italy, and shaking was felt as far away as Egypt and Iran.
By night time the confirmed death toll was over 3,700 – but the WHO has warned the total could rocket to more than 20,000 as rescuers find more victims in the rubble.
Most victims were asleep when the initial mega quake hit at 4am local time.
The 7.8 shock was the biggest in Turkey for “hundreds of years”, geophysics professor Martin Mai told the BBC.
It struck near Gaziantep in eastern Turkey at a depth of around 15 miles.
Credit: Splash News
It was followed by dozens of powerful aftershocks which toppled already damaged buildings in great heaps of dust.
Then just before 1.30pm a second massive quake of magnitude 7.5 sent terrified locals running into the streets.
Videos showed buildings collapse as rescue workers fled for their lives amid dust and chaos.
The second quake – which was just six miles deep with an epicentre 59 miles north of the first – would itself have been the region’s most powerful since 1999.
An official from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said it was “not an aftershock” and was “independent” from the earlier quake.
Earthquake experts said it lay on a separate fault line but would almost certainly have been triggered by the initial shock.
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Northern Syria was also devastated by the double shocks which caused buildings to violently shake side-to-side.
It is expected to be one of the worst-ever disasters in a region that is susceptible to catastrophic earthquakes.
Atsu never made a senior Chelsea appearance but played for Newcastle 86 timesCredit: Reuters
Rescuers are desperately searching for people trappedCredit: EPA More

Ex-Chelsea star Christian Atsu tweeted his joy at scoring a winning goal just hours before being buried under rubble in Turkey’s horror earthquake. Rescuers are desperately trying to find the Ghana ace after his home was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck early on Monday
A destroyed building in the Turkish city of KahramanmarasCredit: Reuters
Former Chelsea and Newcastle winger Christian Atsu is trapped under rubbleCredit: Getty
Just hours before the earthquake, Atsu scored a last minute free kickCredit: Twitter
Several of Atsu’s Hatayspor teammates have been rescued but the ace is still missingCredit: Instagram
The 31-year-old Atsu now plays for Hatayspor, who he joined last summer.
The earthquake rocked the city of Kahramanmaras, where the team are based.
Several of his teammates were dramatically rescued from their homes after the earthquake struck at 4am local time, reports Turkish paper Star.
But Atsu and Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut remain missing under rubble at their respective homes.
READ MORE ON EARTHQUAKE
Just hours earlier, Atsu scored a spectacular 97th-minute free kick to secure his side a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig.
“Important win for the team. Happy to be on the scoresheet,” he tweeted.
Footage showed Atsu being mobbed by his teammates as ecstatic fans celebrated the win on social media, along with messages praying for him to be found.
He isn’t the only player missing, with Yeni Malatyaspor goalie Ahmet Eyup also trapped.
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The club’s technical Director Volkan Demirel issued an appeal for help on his social media account.
“Things are very bad here. Help, we can’t reach people. Whoever can come, come now. We can’t reach anyone.”
Over 1,000 people are believed to have died in the earthquake that struck Turkey around 4am on Monday morning.
The city of Kahramanmara was lit up by flames after a gas pipeline exploded after being ruptured by the earthquake.
And experts say the toll could rise to 10,000 after a second 7.5 magnitude quake hit later on.
Neighbouring Syria was also hit badly, with the tremor felt in Egypt and Cyprus too.
Just yesterday Atsu struck a 97th minute for Hatayspor against Kasimpasa.
And fans are praying the winger is found safe and secure.
One said: “How the world was happy when he scored a goal yesterday, this is how the world appreciates your loved ones, friends.”
Another declared: “The man scored a goal yesterday, he was happy like crazy, now it comes to my mind, I’m crying.”
One added: “God help them.”
Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto for £3.5million in 2013 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Premier League giants.
He took in loans at Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
And the Magpies made his deal permanent in 2017 after Atsu played a key role in their promotion from the Championship.
The ace ended up making 86 appearances for Newcastle before joining Al-Raed in 2021.
Read More on The Sun
Atsu moved to Hatayspor last summer and has one goal in four games for the Turks.
Experts reckon the death toll could rise to 10,000Credit: Getty
Atsu never made a senior Chelsea appearance but played for Newcastle 86 timesCredit: Reuters More

FORMER Chelsea and Newcastle winger Christian Atsu is reportedly trapped under rubble after the massive earthquake in Turkey.Rescuers are desperately trying to find find the Ghana star after he was caught up in the 7.8 magnitude quake on Monday, local media reports.
Former Chelsea and Newcastle winger Christian Atsu is trapped under rubble in TurkeyCredit: Getty
Several of Atsu’s Hatayspor teammates have been rescued but the ace is still missingCredit: Instagram
The 31-year-old ex-Blue Atsu plays for Hatayspor, who he joined last summer.
Several members of his new team had to be rescued in their homes after the earthquake struck at 4am local time, reports Turkish paper Star.
But Atsu and Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut remain missing under rubble at their respective homes.
The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor are based.
READ MORE ON EARTHQUAKE
Two players and members of the technical staff were “pulled out of the rubble” in several dramatic rescue operations.
And efforts remain ongoing to find ex-Everton loanee Atsu and Savut as quickly as possible.
A clip of Atsu scoring a spectacular 97th minute freekick winner just last night was widely circulated on social media, along with messages praying for him to be found.
He isn’t the only footballer missing, with Yeni Malatyaspor goalie Ahmet Eyup also trapped.
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The club’s technical Director Volkan Demirel issued an appeal for help on his social media account.
““Things are very bad here. Help, we can’t reach people. Whoever can come, come now. We can’t reach anyone.”
Experts reckon the death toll could rise to 10,000Credit: Getty
Atsu never made a senior Chelsea appearance but played for Newcastle 86 timesCredit: Reuters
Over 1,000 people are believed to have died in the earthquake that struck Turkey around 4am on Monday morning.
The city of Kahramanmara was lit up by flames after a gas pipeline exploded after being ruptured by the earthquake.
And experts say the toll could rise to 10,000 after a second 7.5 magnitude quake hit later on.
Neighbouring Syria was also hit badly, with the tremor felt in Egypt and Cyprus too.
Just yesterday Atsu struck a 97th minute for Hatayspor against Kasimpasa.
And fans are praying the winger is found safe and secure.
One said: “How the world was happy when he scored a goal yesterday, this is how the world appreciates your loved ones, friends.”
Another declared: “The man scored a goal yesterday, he was happy like crazy, now it comes to my mind, I’m crying.”
One added: “God help them.”
Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto for £3.5million in 2013 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Premier League giants.
He took in loans at Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
And the Magpies made his deal permanent in 2017 after Atsu played a key role in their promotion from the Championship.
The ace ended up making 86 appearances for Newcastle before joining Al-Raed in 2021.
Read More on The Sun
Atsu moved to Hatayspor last summer and has one goal in four games for the Turks. More