Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has lost his wife and two young children after rescue workers recovered their bodies following a 74-hour search in the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week, according to media reports.
Trejo, 38, had been searching for his wife, Yanina Maranella, and their children, Aaron and Ainhoa, after the apartment building where they were staying in Playa Grande collapsed during the twin earthquakes that hit the country on Wednesday.
The defender was in Caracas preparing for a league match with his club when the disaster struck. After losing contact with his family, he took to social media to appeal for information, expressing hope they had escaped the collapsed building.
“Our building in Playa Grande collapsed. I don’t know anything about my family. Please pray for them and share this message in case someone saw them. I want to believe they weren’t there,” he wrote on Instagram.
Media reports said rescue workers recovered the bodies of his wife and children late Saturday, bringing the days-long search to a tragic end.
Trejo’s club, Deportivo La Guaira, confirmed the deaths in a statement on social media on Sunday.
“We join Lucas Trejo in mourning the tragic passing of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and his children, Aaron and Ainhoa Trejo. Peace to their souls and comfort for Lucas and all his loved ones,” the club said.
Marítimo de La Guaira, another club Trejo has represented, also expressed its condolences, describing the discovery of the bodies after the prolonged search as a heartbreaking loss.
The tragedy comes as Venezuela continues to recover from the rare twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, which caused widespread devastation across several parts of the country.
According to the United Nations migration agency, about 6.76 million people may have been affected by the disaster. Nearly 1,500 people have been confirmed dead, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors and those still missing.