The body of former Ghana footballer Christian Atsu has been found under the building where he lived in southern Türkiye after last week's devastating earthquakes ravaged the region, his manager reported.

Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.7-magnitude quake that rocked Türkiye and Syria on Feb. 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.

There were initial reports he had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false.

His manager in Türkiye, Murat Uzunmehmet, told news agencies on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble in the southern province of Hatay.

"We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found," Uzunmehmet said.

Midfielder Atsu spent four seasons at Chelsea before a permanent transfer to Newcastle in 2017. He signed in September for Turkish Süper Lig side Hatayspor.

Search, and rescue workers found Atsu's body where he was staying at Rönesans Residence, a block of high-rise luxury flats that toppled over in Antakya city in Hatay.

Turkish police arrested the building's contractor at Istanbul airport last week as he appeared to be heading to Montenegro, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).