The worst disaster in Turkey in 84 years struck on Monday, killing at least 2,300 people. A powerful 7.8‑magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border at 4:17 a.m. local time, toppling buildings across seven Turkish provinces and northern Syria. The US Geological Survey placed the epicentre near Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9 km. Tremors were felt as far away as Cairo, Egypt.
Super Eagles captain and Sivasspor winger Ahmed Musa, who has made 44 league appearances in Turkey since arriving in 2021, reassured fans about his safety. “Thank you very much, I’m okay here (in Turkey),” he told reporters, adding a tweet that read, “Pray for Turkey,” accompanied by a heartbroken emoji. The wellbeing of his compatriots Henry Onyekuru and David Babajide, who play for Adana Demirspor in one of the quake‑hit cities, was also confirmed. Babajide’s agent, Abiodun Tella, said the two had completed a mild training session in a closed facility and were safe, though the region’s reports remained disturbing. The league has been suspended and schools closed to protect lives.
Former U‑23 captain Okechukwu Azubuike and Ibrahim Olawoyin, both of Rizespor in Turkey’s second tier, also allayed fears, saying they were grateful to be unharmed. Their comments came as the combined death toll in Turkey and Syria rose to at least 2,300 by Monday evening.
The earthquake also affected several football figures. Ghanaian international Christian Atsu, 31, who plays for Hatayspor, was reported missing after being trapped with sporting director Taner Savut when club members were rescued from the rubble. Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel’s wife posted a tearful message after goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan was also trapped. Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkaslan’s club, shared a photo with the caption “Our prayers are with you.” Later reports confirmed Turkaslan’s death under the debris.
Other athletes were caught in the disaster. Players from Marasspor were believed to be staying in a hotel that collapsed, and a men’s volleyball team and a girls’ U‑14 volleyball team had survivors pulled from the rubble. Several wrestlers were also reported trapped; Olympic champion Taha Akgül called for help, estimating that 30 to 40 athletes might be affected.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the quake as the worst Turkey has seen since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, which killed nearly 33,000 people, noting previous deadly quakes in 1999 that claimed over 17,000 lives. He expressed condolences and outlined the emergency response: “All relevant units are on alert under the coordination of AFAD. Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched, and ministries, governorships and other institutions began work rapidly. We hope to overcome this disaster together, with the least damage possible.”
Injuries have been extensive, with at least 5,385 people hurt in Turkey and 2,000 in Syria. The devastation is especially severe in war‑torn northern Syria, where many refugees live in camps along the border. Dozens of buildings have collapsed, including the historic Gaziantep Castle, which stood for over 2,000 years, and a shopping mall in Diyarbakır. Roads are destroyed, and massive piles of rubble stretch for miles. Turkey’s energy infrastructure suffered damage, and videos showed large fires in the south, likely caused by ruptured gas pipelines.
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