Strong earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern coastal Venezuela on June 27, causing widespread destruction [1, 2, 3]. Lucas Trejo, a 38-year-old Argentine defender playing for a Venezuelan football club, was in Caracas during the tremors [s1–s5].
Trejo’s family home in Playa Grande, La Guaira state, collapsed entirely due to the quake [s1–s5]. Emergency responders, along with Trejo’s father and brother who traveled from Argentina, conducted a search for his wife Yanina Maranella and their two children, Aarón and Ainhoa, over a grueling 74-hour period [s1–s5].
On June 29, after more than three days, rescuers located the bodies of Trejo’s wife and children in the rubble, confirming their deaths [s1–s5]. Trejo’s football club issued an official statement expressing condolences and sharing the tragic news with the public [s1–s5].
Fellow footballer Edson Tortolero took to social media to express his sorrow, writing, "難以用言語形容這份傷痛，並祈願特雷霍有力量面對這場無法想像的失去," which means "It is hard to put this pain into words, and I pray Trejo has the strength to face this unimaginable loss" [1, 2]. Tortolero also publicly informed fans in Venezuela and Argentina that the family’s remains were recovered and called for respect and support during this painful time [3].
The earthquakes have resulted in at least 1,430 fatalities across Venezuela, highlighting the disaster’s severe impact on communities along the northern coast [3].
Rescue efforts continue in the region as authorities assess damage and provide aid to survivors. Meanwhile, Trejo and his family mourn their devastating loss.
