Soccer star’s wife, two kids killed in Venezuela earthquakes

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An Argentine soccer player is mourning his wife and two children, who were killed in the back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela last week.

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Lucas Trejo, who plays for Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, was at his team’s training camp in Caracas when the earthquakes struck, CNN Espanol reported.

Trejo, 38, rushed to his home in La Guaira, about 27 kilometres north of the capital, and spent days searching through rubble for signs of his wife Yanina and their kids, son Aaron and daughter Ainhoa.

La Guaira was one of the hardest-hit areas after what the U.S. Geological Survey described as a “severe seismic doublet sequence,” striking 39 seconds apart.

Trejo’s brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, told the outlet that the soccer player was “emotionally overwhelmed” and that “absolutely nothing” was left of the family’s beachfront home.

“What he found was a horrific scene,” Ardiles said. “He found absolutely nothing of what the building itself had been. Our hope is that they weren’t in there.”

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More help desperately needed

As Trejo sifted through debris for any signs of life, other soccer players made videos pleading for more machinery to be sent to the city as they continued their search.

“This is where we are, one of the many affected buildings. I want you to see the conditions here,” Robert Garces, who plays for Venezuela’s Metropolitanos F.C., said in an Instagram video.

“We really need help. I’m here with many professional soccer players, giving our all to help our brother Lucas. But we’re not enough,” he continued.

Garces went on to ask for a telescopic crane, a cordless grinder, and more help.

“To those who can actually come, I invite you to join us,” he added. “A more serious helping hand would be a huge help, since the only machine we have right now isn’t enough.”

Clubs send their condolences

Deportivo La Guaira, which competes in the top-tier Liga FUTVE, shared that Trejo’s family was killed following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes.

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“From the #DLG we join the grief that overwhelms player Lucas Trejo, for the sensitive passing of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and of his children, Aarón and Ainhoa Trejo,” the team wrote on X. “Peace to their souls and comfort for Lucas and all his loved ones.”

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Trejo’s own club has also shared the news on social media and sent a message to their player.

“In this moment of immense sorrow, we offer our prayers for the eternal rest of their souls and for the strength of Lucas and his loved ones to face this tragedy,” they wrote.

“Lucas, you are not alone. Your Marítimo La Guaira family is with you,” the team continued.

“We are with you in spirit, with respect, unity, and solidarity. From the club, your teammates, coaching staff, board, and all our fans, we send you our deepest condolences.”

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Marítimo La Guaira also shared the tragic news that two of the club’s youth players, Ricardo Veloz and Victor Palacios, were also killed.

More than 1,400 people died and thousands more are missing in Venezuela, authorities said Sunday, per CNN.

The search has now surpassed the first 72 hours – the most critical window for finding survivors.

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