Hatayspor sporting director found dead in earthquake ruins

Updated Feb. 21, 2023 4:44 p.m. ET

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ISTANBUL (AP) — The body of Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut has been recovered, the Turkish soccer club said Tuesday, more than two weeks after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and neighboring Syria.

The Feb. 6 quake has killed nearly 46,000 people, including Ghana international forward Christian Atsu, who played for Hatayspor and lived in the same luxury 12-story building as Savut in Antakya, Hatay province.

Antakya, the city where Hatayspor is based, is in the southern region of Turkey hardest hit by the earthquake.

Hatayspor said it was “deeply saddened” by Savut's death. Other top-flight clubs and the Turkish Football Federation expressed their condolences.

The contractor of the Ronesans Rezidans building — where Atsu and Savut lived — was detained at Istanbul Airport more than a week ago, apparently trying to leave the country.

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