Newcastle United are 'praying for positive news' from Turkey after it emerged former Magpies star Christian Atsu was yet to be accounted for following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the country. The death toll is rising by the hour after two separate quakes rocked southern Turkey and northern Syria on Sunday night and Monday morning.
The epicentre of the first was near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, but the quake was felt across Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Israel and is one of the largest ever recorded in the country. Turkish team Hatayspor are concerned for members of their playing, coaching and technical staff after a building collapsed overnight.
Atsu, who joined the Turkish club in 2022, is reportedly yet to emerge from the rubble along with club translator Emre Aslan. Hatayspor stars Bertug Yıldırım and Burak Oksuz are said to have been found, while club officials Ekrem Ekşioğlu, Osman Ateş and Kerim Alici also came out of the wreckage.
READ MORE: Former Newcastle United star Christian Atsu 'trapped under rubble' after earthquake hits Turkey
Newcastle United responded to the news on Monday by tweeting: "Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20." Sunderland also posted a message on social media with both praying and heart emojis.
The worrying news comes just one day after Atsu netted a 97th-minute free-kick to give Hatayspor a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa. The winger was mobbed by his team-mates after the strike, which moved the club up to 14th in the Turkish top flight.
After the game, Atsu tweeted: "Important win for the team. Happy to be on the scoresheet." The 31-year-old featured 75 times for Newcastle over a four-year period and also featured for Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League.
The Ghanian Football Association today tweeted: "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."
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted on Monday: "My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake. The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can."
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