Venezuela Earthquake: Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has lost his wife and two young children after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, with rescue teams recovering their bodies following a 74-hour search operation.
According to international media reports, the 38-year-old defender was in the capital, Caracas, preparing for a league match with his club when the earthquakes struck. His wife, Yanina Maranilla, and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa, were inside their apartment building in Playa Grande, which collapsed after two powerful earthquakes hit on Wednesday.
After losing contact with his family, Trejo appealed for help on social media, saying the building had collapsed and that he had no information about his loved ones. He urged people to pray for their safety.
On Saturday night, rescue workers recovered the bodies of his wife and both children from the rubble. His club, Deportivo La Guaira, later confirmed their deaths in a social media statement and expressed its condolences to the player and his family.
Former club Marítimo La Guaira also issued a statement, saying the footballer’s family had been found dead after 74 hours of continuous search efforts.
Media reports said Trejo’s father and brother had travelled from Argentina to Venezuela to assist in the search operation.
Just hours before the tragic discovery, the footballer had shared a family photograph on social media, expressing hope that his wife and children would be found alive.
According to the United Nations, the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude caused widespread destruction across Venezuela. Nearly 6.76 million people have been affected, around 1,500 people have died, and search operations for those still missing continue.
