Volkan Demirel, Turkish football’s ‘tough guy’ breaks down in tears after earthquake, asks for help: watch

Volkan Demirel, former Fenerbahce goalkeeper and famously known as the “tough guy” of Turkish football, was reduced to tears as he pleaded for help for the victims of the middle eastern country’s huge earthquake. More than 2,500 were killed and thousands of others are missing after a massive tremor of the magnitude of 7.8 struck on Monday morning. This was followed by three more quakes, all upwards of the magnitude of 7.

Among the people missing is ex-Chelsea and Newcastle winger Christian Atsu. He is feared to be trapped under the rubble and search and rescue teams from all over the world have flown in to help out the crisis-torn nation.

Also Read | Who is Christian Atsu, ex-Chelsea footballer trapped under rubble after Turkey earthquakes?

In the face of such a crisis, Demirel, who spent 17 years playing for Fenerbahce, also took to social media on Monday to do his bit to help attract attention toward the crisis that has been brought upon his people. He pleaded with his fans outside Turkey for support. When he tried filming the heartbreaking reality of the situation, the enormity of the aftermath got to him and he burst into tears on camera.

Speaking on an Instagram live, Demirel said: “Help. I want you to send all the resources you have. To the environmentalists, it is not just Hatay and Antakya. Please, I am asking you. Please, please, for the love of god, people are dying here. For the love of god.”

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According to experts, the death toll could hit as high as 10,000. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called the first earthquake a historic disaster for which the death toll is likely to rise. He said 2,818 buildings collapsed after the first tremor, describing it as the country’s “largest disaster” since 1939 when a major quake struck the eastern province of Erzincan.