Tragedy has struck Turkey following a series of earthquakes on Monday, with former Newcastle United and Ghana international Christian Atsu still missing and Turkish goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan sadly confirmed dead.
Monday’s earthquakes, of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitudes, hit south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria and have claimed over 10,000 lives. 31-year-old Ghanaian Atsu, who currently plays for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor, has been missing since the incident.
Despite reports that he had been rescued and taken to hospital on Monday, Wednesday’s news from Hatayspor director Volkan Demirel that he has still not been located has made his situation even more concerning.
Atsu spent nearly a decade at Chelsea and Newcastle United, joining the latter on loan in 2017 before signing a permanent deal.
The winger had been part of the team which won promotion to the Premier League that season and scored deep into stoppage time on Sunday to win a 1-0 over Kasimpasa.
Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, 28, had been playing for second-division Yeni Malatyaspor at the time of his death.
His club confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “Our goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, lost his life after being under the collapse of the earthquake. Rest in peace.
We will not forget you, beautiful person. Rescue efforts have been ongoing since Monday, and the Turkish government has declared three days of national mourning for the disaster victims.
The search for Atsu continues, and everyone in the football community is hopeful that he will be found safe and well. Meanwhile, the memory of Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan will be honored for the rest of his life.