Turkey earthquake: Christian Atsu found alive in quake rubble, confirms Ghana envoy

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Former Chelsea and Newcastle footballer Christian Atsu has been found alive after being reported stuck in the rubble of Turkey earthquake in Hatay, said Ghana's ambassador to Turkey.

The 31-year-old Ghanian, who joined Turkish football club Hatayspor in September, was living in near the epicentre of the earthquake on Monday that claimed live of 4800 people in Turkey and Syria.

"I have good news coming. I am just getting information from the president of the Ghana association that Christian Atsu has been found in Hatay," Francisca Ashietey-Odunton told Accra-based Asaase Radio.

The envoy revealed no further details on Atsu's condition. Earlier on Monday, Hatyspor official Mustafa Ozat told a local channel that Atsu was among the two club members, who were missing.

Atsu is a regular face in European football and has played 60 international games for Ghana.

"We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria," the Ghana Football Association said on Twitter.

Apart from Atsu, three other women's footballers were also plying their trades in Turkey and were reported safe.

"Queenabel Amankwah and Regina Antwi[both at 1207 Antalya] who were part of our CAF Women's Champions League campaign in 2021 are very safe. Gifty Assifuah, now playing for Antalya is very safe," wrote Ghana football.

Turkey was hit by a massive earthquake, of magnitude 7.8 richter scale, on Monday night when people were sleeping. The cold weather conditions further hampered emergency efforts as several countries offered aid.

Multi-storey apartment buildings full of residents were among the more than 5,600 structures reduced to rubble in Turkey, while Syria announced dozens of collapses.