Former Chelsea and Newcastle player Christian Atsu has been rescued after his voice was heard under the rubble of a collapsed building – but his club says he is injured – as the death toll from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is estimated at 20,000.

Former Newcastle and Chelsea star Christian Atsu has finally been rescued from a destroyed building following an earthquake in Turkey.

Atsu, who was reportedly missing with Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut, was injured but has now left the building, club vice-president Mustafa Özat confirmed.

Speaking to Radyo Gol, Ozat said: “Christian Atsu has been knocked out with injuries. Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble.’

He added: “Hatay is deeply affected. We are approaching the end of the most dangerous hours.’

Atsu’s teammate Kerim Alici, a close friend, also confirmed on Turkish TV on Tuesday morning that the player had been rescued alive.

Footage from a rescue mission claimed Atsu’s voice could be heard as they approached

Up to 20,000 people were killed and thousands injured after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday night, destroying neighborhoods as families slept.

Footage shared by Ajansspor on social media showed a rescue team in Ekinci village in Adıyaman district.

The video claims voices of Atsu and sports director Savut can be heard.

Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper described a tense wait for Savut, the sports director, to be rescued as rescue teams navigated through the rubble.

Hatayspor players Burak Öksüz, Kerem Alici and Onur Ergün as well as team officials Ekrem Ekşioğlu and Osman Ateş were rescued from the rubble on the first day, sources said.

Atsu was part of the Newcastle side that were promoted to the Premier League in 2017 after being loaned to Chelsea for the season and later making a permanent move. He also won 65 caps for Ghana.

The Ghana Football Association said on Tuesday: “We have received positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is being treated. Let’s keep praying for Christian.”

In response to the GFA’s tweet, Newcastle said: “Welcome news. Our thoughts remain with Christian, his family and all those affected by the devastating earthquakes on Monday.”

Thousands of people are known to have died after two powerful earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks collapsed buildings in Turkey on Monday

Atsu (left) celebrates a goal for Hatayspor in a match against Kasimpasa on February 2

Atsu came on for Hatayspor on Sunday and scored in the seventh minute of added time in their 1-0 win over Kasimpasa.

In a post after the game, he wrote: “Important win for the team. Happy to be on the leaderboard.’

The earthquake hit hard on Kahramanmaras where Hatayspor is located.

Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted an Instagram story in response to previous posts that he misses and suggests were wrong.

Atsu’s latest post on Twitter followed his club’s 1-0 win on Sunday, in which the 31-year-old scored the winner in the seventh minute of added time.

A search and rescue mission is underway to find people trapped under the rubble

“Thanks to everyone who called and asked,” says the midfielder. “The news is not true. I’m doing well.

“I can’t answer the phone because there is a network problem. Get well soon for all of us.’

Former Turkey international and Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel broke down in tears on social media as he pleaded with the world to help his homeland after Sunday’s 7.8 earthquake.

Demirel, who won 63 caps for Turkey during his international career, took to Instagram in a live video on Monday morning to ask for support.

Tremors from the deadly quake were felt as far away as Egypt, Lebanon and the island of Cyprus – and a tsunami warning was briefly issued off the country’s coast by authorities in Italy

‘Employees! I want you to send the environmentalist everything you have. It’s not just Hatay and Antakya,” Demirel pleaded.

“Please, I’m begging you. Please, please, for God’s sake, people are dying here. For the love of God…”

Although Demirel began the video relatively calmly, he soon broke down in tears as he pleaded for help, adequately capturing the grief and fear his nation is experiencing in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Hatayspor manager Demirel’s wife shared a tearful message after a massive aftershock was measured 7.5 hours after the original earthquake hit southern Turkey.

“Hatay is in very bad shape,” said Zeynep Sever Demirel said in a video shared on social media.

Among the other missing Turkish athletes are 14 volleyball players from the Hatay team, national handball player Cemal Kutahya and Hatayspor coach Savas Yukse.

Olympic gold medalist Taha Akgul said about 30 to 40 wrestlers from a team in Kahramanmaras were also trapped under the debris.