Christian Atsu trapped ‘under rubble’ after Turkey earthquake, reports say – latest updates

Newcastle are anxiously awaiting news of former midfielder Christian Atsu amid reports that he has been trapped in the earthquakes which hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.

The 31-year-old Ghana international, now playing his football with Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor, was said to be missing after team-mates and members of the club’s technical staff had reportedly been pulled from rubble.

Atsu was part of the Magpies team which won promotion back to the Premier League in 2017 after joining on loan for the season from Chelsea, and later completed a permanent move.

We still wait for an update on Christian Atsu, but there is good news on one of the Ghana winger’s Hatayspor teammates.

Posting on Instagram, London-born Canada international Sam Adekugbe appears to have confirmed that he is safe.

Search and rescue teams continue to seek surivors amidst the rubble on a tragic day in southern Turkey and northern Syria. The revised death toll is now more than 2,300.

This is the morning ‘doomsday’ came to Turkey and Syria, writes our International Correspondent Bel Trew.

Christian Atsu was briefly a Bournemouth player in 2015.

The Ghanaian Football Association has released this statement with Christian Atsu’s condition unknown after the earthquakes in Turkey.

“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hataspor and the Turkish Football Federation, considering the difficult situation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Atsu and our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria. We remain hopeful for positive news.”

Understandably, the Tour of Antalya – a four-stage cycling race due to be held in the south of Turkey this week – has been cancelled after the tragedy.

We still await news on Christian Atsu’s condition as search and rescue teams continue to dig through the rubble left by those two major seismic events.

John Mahama, president of Ghana between 2012 and 2017, has tweeted his hopes for positive news regarding Christian Atsu.

Here, by the way, is Chris Stevenson’s report on the disaster in Turkey, with a second significant earthquake striking to disrupt rescue efforts after a 7.8-magnitude seismic event.

At least 1,700 people are now reported to have died in this morning’s two major earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria.

Liverpool are among the clubs to have tweeted support for the region’s people: