The partner of footballer Christian Atsu, who has been missing since Monday’s earthquake in Turkey, has called for equipment to be sent to the collapsed building where he lives.
It was reported that Atsu, who plays for Turkish club Hatayspor, was rescued from the building “with injuries”.
But a day later his agent confirmed his whereabouts are unknown.
“I’m still praying, and I believe he’s still alive,” Claire Rupio, who lives in Newcastle, England, told BBC News.
Rupio said the conflicting reports about his whereabouts had been “confusing” and “quite terrifying”, saying his children had heard on the radio that he was still missing.
He said: “I am asking the Hatayspor club, the Turkish authorities, and the British government, to send equipment to get people out of the rubble – especially my partner and the father of my children.
“They need equipment to get out – they can’t go deep without equipment. And time is running out.”
More than 21,000 people have been killed in southern Turkey and northern Syria since the earthquake and aftershocks.
Atsu – along with Taner Savut, the sporting director of Atsu Hatayspor club – has not been seen since Monday’s quake.
On Tuesday, Hatayspor’s vice-president told Turkish media that Atsu had been found alive, but on Wednesday another figure from the club, as well as Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, said they could not confirm this yet.
Rupio said the agent is currently in Turkey and trying to enter the building in Hatay where Atsu is inside.
Sechere tweeted on Thursday: “The situation remains the same, Christian Atsu has not been found. Unless I see Christian, or talk to him, I have no further updates.”
“They know where the building is, and they’re trying to rescue everyone,” Rupio added.
“They know there are people still trapped under the rubble, but the problem is they don’t have the equipment they need to get them out.
“So he’s still missing, and we don’t know where he is.”
‘Atsu’s report has been confusing and shocking’
Rupio last spoke to Atsu on Saturday morning. He described the club’s inaccurate news that Atsu had been rescued as “quite shocking.”
“The club confirmed that he was found and alive and taken to the hospital, and 11 hours later, my children had to hear on the radio that they still didn’t know where he was,” he said.
“I know that his agent is there, and am trying to find him. He will surely bring reliable news, if he sees or speaks to him. Everything is confused.”
Atsu, 31, played 107 games for Newcastle and has had spells with Chelsea, Everton and Bournemouth.
The Premier League has announced it will donate £1m to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal to deliver humanitarian aid to those in Turkey and Syria who need it.
Players and officials in the Premier League will also wear black armbands in this weekend’s matches.
Source: BBC
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