Earthquake – Turkey: Chelsea fear for Christian Atsu

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Christian Atsu also played for Newcastle United in the Premier League

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SCOTT HEPPELL / REUTERS

The Ghanaian soccer professional Christian Atsu is missing after the earthquake disaster in the Turkish-Syrian border region.

"We pray for you, Christian Atsu," tweeted Chelsea FC, where Atsu was under contract between 2013 and 2017.

The 31-year-old now plays for Hatayspor.

The club comes from the city of Antakya on the Turkish-Syrian border.

Antakya is located in the Hatay province, which was particularly hard hit by the disaster.

Media reports, citing Hatayspor spokesman Mustafa Özat, that Atsu may have stayed in a destroyed house.

Sports director Taner Savut is also said to have been in the building.

Attempts to make contact failed.

At least 3000 people killed

According to official figures, at least 3,000 people have been killed in southern Turkey and northern Syria.

However, the extent is not yet foreseeable, many people are still missing.

Around 15,000 people were injured in Syria and Turkey.

• You can read all the important developments regarding the earthquake in the Syrian-Turkish border area here.

Just hours before the earthquake, Atsu had scored the winning goal against Kasimpasa in the Süper Lig to make it 1-0.

Atsu has been playing for Hatayspor since last summer.

Before that he was with FC Porto and was loaned out by Chelsea to Everton, Newcastle and Malaga.

The Ghanaian striker became champion and Portuguese Super Cup winner with Porto.

hba/dpa/AP