Olympic champion's urgent plea as '30-40 wrestlers' trapped in Turkey earthquake

06 February 2023 , 12:21

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Turkish freestyle wrestler Taha Akgul has made a desperate plea for "urgent help" following a major earthquake (Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Olympic champion wrestler Taha Akgul has issued a desperate plea for "urgent help" on social media after a massive earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria.

Akgul, who won gold in freestyle wrestling for Tokyo at 2016 Olympics and Bronze at the 2020 Games, said the building where his wrestling club is based had been "demolished" by the earthquake and left 30-40 wrestlers trapped "under the rubble".

In a post on his Instagram story, Akgul wrote: "The building where 30-40 of our wrestlers stay in the wrestling club in Kahramanmaraş has also been demolished… Our athletes are under the rubble. We are waiting for urgent help. Help me, my God!"

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed at least 3,400 people across Turkey and Syria according to officials and was followed by a 7.5 magnitude aftershock that hit Turkey, Syria and also Iraqi Kurdistan.

The number of wounded is now 5,385 in Turkey and 1,089 in Syria. Tremors from the enormous quake were also felt as far as Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt.

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A majority of the damage is in southern Turkey as well as northern and central Syria. Sadly the death toll is expected to rise as time goes on with more reports coming in.

Yeni Malatyaspor goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan is also reportedly among those trapped underneath rubble, with his club posting a photo of the player with the caption: "Our prayers are with you".

Akgul said on Instagram the building where his wrestling club is based had been "demolished" by the earthquake and left 30-40 wrestlers trapped "under the rubble" (Instagram/tahakgul)

The earthquake has decimated buildings across the Turkey (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Former Premier League footballer Christian Atsu, who played for Chelsea and Newcastle United is also amongst those trapped under rubble. A search and rescue operation is underway for the Ghanaian international, who joined Super Lig club Hataysport last summer.

Zeynep Sever Demirel, a former Miss Belgium winner, who is married to Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel, shared a video on social media of the devastation in the Hatay Province.

In the clip, a tearful Demirel says "Hatay is in a very bad way" and that some of her friends are also trapped under rubble.

The historical Yeni Mosque after the earthquake in Malatya (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Speaking at a press conference, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the earthquake was the country's "largest disaster" since another major earthquake back in 1939.

"Everyone is putting their heart and soul into efforts, although the winter season, cold weather and the earthquake happening during the night make things more difficult," he told reporters.

"We do not know how high the casualty numbers will go as efforts to lift the debris continue in several buildings in the earthquake zone. Today is a day for 85 million to be together as one heart."

European politicians are also responding to the devastating earthquake, including British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who said the country is ready to help. He tweeted: "Tragic loss of life in the Turkey and Syria earthquake. Our condolences go to the families of those who died and our thoughts are with the survivors. The UK stands ready to provide assistance."

Matthew Cooper