Turkiye quake claims life of Ghanaian soccer ace Atsu

HATAY, Turkey — Former Ghana international Christian Atsu was found dead on Saturday under the rubble of his home, almost two weeks after a devastating earthquake in Turkiye.

Atsu, 31, was caught up in the 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkiye and Syria on Feb 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.

Unfortunately, initial reports that the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued the day after the quake hit proved to be false.

His manager in Turkiye, Murat Uzunmehmet, told DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble of luxury flats that had collapsed in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.

"We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found," Uzunmehmet told DHA.

"It's with a heavy heart that I have to announce to everyone the body of Christian Atsu was found this morning," his London-based agent Nana Sechere tweeted.

Ghana's ministry of foreign affairs said it had "received the unfortunate news".

"The elder brother and twin sister of Christian Atsu and an officer of the (Ghanaian) embassy were present at the site when the body was recovered," the ministry said in a statement.

Atsu scored the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor in Turkiye's Super Lig on Feb 5, just hours before the quake struck.

"There are no words to describe our sadness," tweeted the club.