7.8M Turkey Earthquake: Former Chelsea Player Declared Missing a Few Hours After Bringing His Team to Victory

Rescue teams are trying to find victims in the rubble of the building as a result of the earthquake that rocked Turkey. (Wikimedia Commons/Mahmut Bozarslan/VOA)

JAKARTA - An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 rocked Turkey and Syria, Monday, February 6. A number of people are still missing as a result of the earthquake.

One of them is a former Newcastle United player, Christian Atsu. He was declared missing after the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay, Turkey.

The Ghanaian winger, who is currently playing for Turkish football team Hatayspor, has reportedly disappeared hours after giving his team a victory in the Turkish league.

"Our prayers for Ghana international Christian Atsu and the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. We remain hopeful for positive news," the Ghana Football Association said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Quoting a Reuters report via Antara, Tuesday, February 7, Club Hatayspor Vice President Mustafa Ozat told Turkish television station Play Spor, Atsu and the club's sporting director, Taner Savut, were still under the rubble.

He told BeIN Sports several players and officials have been rescued and the club is working to help others.

Atsu, who is currently 31 years old, plays in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Everton, on loan from Chelsea. He then joined Hatayspor in September.

Two English clubs Newcastle and Chelsea also expressed their condolences and prayers for Atsu through their official Twitter.

On the other hand, Atsu was last selected to play for Ghana in 2019, but has yet to officially retire from international football.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound," tweeted Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.