Reports: Christian Atsu Found Alive
Reports suggest Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu has been found alive after being trapped for hours by rubbles from Monday’s earthquake.
The news has been confirmed by Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu and Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashitey-Odunton.
Atsu topped Twitter trends following reports that he had been trapped by rubbles from two “powerful” earthquakes in Turkey on February 6, 2023.
The first quake reportedly struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing and trapping many, among whom was Atsu- a Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor player and other teammates were among.
BBC cited the US Geological Survey as saying the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep.
The Second quake is said to have struck hours later at a magnitude of 7.5, in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province, the BBC reported.
As of Tuesday morning, 4,800 people have been confirmed dead with many others still trapped in the rubbles.
Following these reports, Ghanaians and the football fraternity including President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Dramani Mahama, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, Footballer Asamoah Gyan, Chelsea FC, Newcastle FC, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ghana Football Association and several others took to social media to say a prayer for him.
On Tuesday morning, Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu posted on social media that the Ghanaian player had been pulled out alive.
“Is he okay?”, Ghanaian sports journalist Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo asked in the comment section and he replied “Yes”.
In an interview, Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashitey-Odunton said the President of the Ghanaian Community in Turkey had confirmed the player has been found.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
