Footballers, volleyballers die in Turkey earthquake

Others have been evacuated and fund-raising efforts have also started following the quake in Hatay and nine other southern provinces which according to latest figures has claimed almost 7,000 lives in Turkey alone.

Footballers of Super Lig sides Atakas Hatayspor, Gaziantep FK and second division Malatyaspor are either dead or missing.

Hatayspor's Christian Atsu was rescued alive, while Sports Director Taner Savut is believed to be under debris nearly 60 hours after the quake.

The Hatayspor and Gaziantep teams have been flown out of the disaster zone to safety.

Malatyaspor goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan died in the quake.

One member of amateur league side Kahramanmaras Istiklal Spor died, while another is still trapped under rubble and a third is in intensive care after being rescued.

Women's volleyball side Gaziantep lost player Betul Coban Cakir and her husband, Bedrettin Cakir, along with an amateur league player in the sport.

Wrestlers from France, Kosovo and Uzbekistan who were in Kahramanmaras for a competition, were safely evacuated. But some Turkish wrestlers are believed to be trapped there.

National Women's Basketball team player Nilay Aydogan is still trapped in Malatya province.

Basketball Super League side Gaziantep were in Istanbul at the time of quake and are now in Germany for a FIBA Europe Cup game.

Broadcaster NTV reported at least 15 sportspeople - 11 players from a second division volleyball team and four amputee footballers - are trapped under the debris of a hotel in the Malatya province.

Relief efforts also include fund-raising, with Turkish international footballer Merih Demiral, who plays at Italy's Atalanta, auctioning off a signed Cristiano Ronaldo shirt. The highest bid stood at over $US14,000 ($A20,000) on Wednesday.

"All of the proceeds from the auction will be used in the earthquake zone," pledged Demiral who said he has also convinced other players such as Roma's Paulo Dybala.

Australian Associated Press