Ghanaian player Christian Atsu, who was on the 9th floor of a building that collapsed after the earthquakes in Turkey, was found and pulled from the rubble.

• LIVE Earthquakes ravaging Turkey and Syria: Rescue operations continue non-stop in winter / More than 4,800 dead at latest / 5,000 buildings destroyed in Turkey / Rescue teams arrive from around the world

“Christian Atsu was pulled alive from the rubble!” said journalist Yagiz Sabunkuoglu, who said that sports director Taner Savut has not yet been found.

Hatayspor initially denied the report by Portuguese daily A Bola, but Mustafa Ozat, the club’s press officer, said on Tuesday that Atsu had been taken to hospital with injuries.

On February 5, Atsu brought victory to his team against Kasimpasa (23rd stage of the Super League) with a score of 1:0, scoring in the 90th+7th minute.

A former Porto, Chelsea and Newcastle player, Atsu was capped 60 times for Ghana and scored 10 goals. Atsu is married and has three children.

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit central Turkey and northwestern Syria on Monday, killing at least 1,800 people and injuring thousands. Many buildings collapsed in the snow-covered region as rescuers began searching for survivors trapped under the debris. An earthquake early this winter morning was followed by another devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake at midday, according to the relevant European agency.

• VIDEO Turkish football legend calls with tears in his eyes – former Premier League player, missing after earthquake