Ghanaian international 63 times, Christian Atsu, 31, is one of those missing after the two violent earthquakes (magnitude of 7.7 and 7.5) that hit Syria and south-eastern Turkey on Monday morning. The day before, the winger, today at Hatayspor, had scored the winning goal for his team against Kasimpasa (1-0) on a free kick scored at the last minute.
He has spent a good part of his career in the Premier League. He joined Chelsea in 2013 before being loaned to numerous clubs including Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Magnitude 7,8
Atsu is actively sought by the emergency services, as is his teammate Onur Ergün and his sports director, Taner Savut. Eyup Türkaslan, goalkeeper of Yeni Malatyaspor (club today in the second division), is still trapped under the rubble.
The provisional toll of the two earthquakes that occurred on Monday in Turkey and Syria now stands at more than 2,000 dead, according to the authorities. The quake, of magnitude 7.8, took place in southeastern Turkey overnight from Sunday to Monday.
The area concerned is located about fifty kilometers from the Syrian border. The tremor was also felt in Lebanon and Cyprus. According to the Danish Geological Institute, it has even been recorded as far away as Greenland.