<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The body of former Ghana international Christian Atsu has been found after a devastating earthquake in Turkey, local media reported Saturday, quoting his manager.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were initial reports the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His manager in Turkey, Murat Uzunmehmet, told DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble in the Turkish southern province of Hatay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found," Uzunmehmet told DHA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ghana's ministry of foreign affairs said it had "received the unfortunate news".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ghana said it was working with the Turkish government to organise the transport of the body back to Atsu's home country for burial.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Midfielder Atsu spent four seasons at Chelsea before a permanent transfer to Newcastle in 2017. He signed last September for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chelsea issued a statement declaring: "It is with enormous sadness that Chelsea Football Club receives the news that Christian Atsu is confirmed as one of the many victims of the dreadful earthquake in Turkey and Syria."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Newcastle also paid hommage to "a talented player and a special person".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The club added: "He will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Initially joining on loan, he played a key role in the Magpies squad that secured the Championship title in 2017 before making a permanent move to help us establish our place back in the Premier League."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Search and rescue workers found Atsu's body where he was staying at Ronesans Residence, a block of high-rise luxury flats that toppled over in Antakya city in Hatay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Turkish police arrested the building's contractor at Istanbul airport last week as he appeared to be heading to Montenegro, according to state news agency Anadolu. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>