Soccer Player Christian Atsu Is Rescued From Turkey Earthquake

Christian Atsu, an expert soccer participant who as soon as performed in England’s Premier League, was rescued from below rubble in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, the vp of his present group, Turkey’s Hatayspor, stated on Tuesday.

“Christian Atsu was eliminated, injured,” the group’s vp, Mustafa Ozat, said on Radyo Gol, a Turkish radio station. “We’re coming towards the top of probably the most harmful hours.” He stated the membership’s sporting director, Taner Savut, was nonetheless trapped.

Mr. Atsu had been among the many hundreds of individuals lacking after an earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, inflicting hundreds of individuals to grow to be caught below collapsed buildings. Simply hours earlier than the earthquake hit, Mr. Atsu scored his group’s successful aim in its match towards Kasimpasa, a group from Istanbul.

The destiny of different gamers for Hatayspor, which is predicated in Hatay, Turkey, about 60 miles west of Aleppo, Syria, was not instantly clear. Greater than 5,100 individuals in Turkey and Syria have died within the quake, and that toll is anticipated to rise. Rescuers labored via the evening to tug individuals from the rubble, however freezing temperatures and snow impeded some rescue efforts.

Vice President Fuat Oktay of Turkey stated on Tuesday that greater than 8,000 individuals had been rescued from beneath the wreckage. Earthquake rescues sometimes occur in the first three days, an professional stated.

Via tears, Volkan Demirel, the supervisor of Hatayspor, on Tuesday appealed on Instagram for help for others who nonetheless remained below rubble.

“Please assist, assist,” stated Mr. Demirel, the previous goalkeeper of Fenerbahce, an Istanbul group. “I would like you to ship all the assistance you’ll be able to. Not just for Hatay, however for surrounding cities too.”

Mr. Atsu, a member of Ghana’s World Cup group in 2014, has spent the majority of his profession with European golf equipment, together with Porto, Chelsea and Newcastle United. He joined Hatayspor final 12 months.