A goalkeeper has been left trapped under rubble after a devastating earthquake in Turkey as his wife is rescued from the wreckage.
The 7.8 magnitude quake hit Turkey on Monday and was felt in several cities across the country as well as in neighbouring Syria, with the death toll having risen to more than 1,200. Over 5,000 people have currently been reported as injured, meanwhile, plenty more remain unaccounted for underneath the rubble left behind by the earthquake.
Among them is Yeni Malatyaspor goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan, who remains underneath the rubble according to local reports, but his wife has been saved.
READ MORE: More than 1,200 dead as massive 7.8 earthquake hits Turkey and shakes several nations
Yeni Safak report that attempts are ongoing to save the 28-year-old in Malatya province, where the club are based. The club tweeted an image of their keeper on Monday with the message: “Our prayers are with you…”
Malatyaspor also shared a statement in response to the natural disaster, which read: “We wish God’s mercy on our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş and felt in our city, and we wish a quick recovery to our injured citizens.”
Turkaslan joined Maltyaspor from Umraniyespor in 2021 and has made two appearances in the Turkish Cup for the club this season. Malatyaspor are currently bottom of the Turkish second division following a 5-1 loss away at Rizespor on Saturday.
(Image: @YMSkulubu/Twitter)
The devastating earthquake occurred near the city of Gazientep in south-east Turkey on Monday morning, with reports it was felt in Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel as well as across the border in Syria.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since joined French President Emmanuel Macron in pledging to send aid to Turkey in response to an appeal for help.
Schools in 10 cities and provinces across southern Turkey have been closed for a week following the earthquake, it has been announced by the country’s vice-president Fuat Oktay, including in Malatya.
READ NEXT: