Venezuela earthquake destroys Argentina soccer player Lucas Trejo’s entire family – wife, 2 children die in building collapse | Today’s news
Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes not only claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people, but also wiped out the entire family of Argentina defender Lucas Trejo. The footballer, his wife Yanina Maranella and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa, died in a strong, high-magnitude earthquake. On June 24, two strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit the Yaracuy region.
Lucas Trejo’s family has been missing after their apartment building collapsed during strong tremors. Rescue teams later confirmed the heartbreaking news of their deaths when they found the lifeless bodies of Trejo’s family after an intensive 74-hour search operation after the building collapsed in Playa Grande, La Guaira. The 38-year-old defender, who plays for Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira, was away in Caracas with his club Maritimo to prepare for the upcoming match.
The club expressed its sadness at the loss, saying in an official statement: “From #DLG we join the sadness that washes over the player Lucas Trejo, for the sensitive passing of his wife Yanina Maranella and his children Aaron and Ainhoa Trejo. Peace to their souls and comfort to Lucas and all his loved ones.”
The moment Lucas Trejo heard about the natural disaster and the collapse of the apartment building where his family lived, he left the Copa Venezuela match and rushed to his hometown. He even took to social media to ask for information about his family and expressed hope that they had escaped the collapse.
“Our building in Playa Grande collapsed. I don’t know anything about my family. Pray for them and share this message in case anyone sees them. I want to believe they weren’t there,” the defender wrote in an Instagram post before the tragic revelation of his family in the aftermath.
Firefighters, volunteers, friends, family members, professional rescue teams and local residents, including Venezuelan soccer player Edson Tortoler, assisted in the desperate search for him before the tragic outcome was confirmed.
According to the latest figures, the latest death toll from the twin earthquakes is 1,430, while 50,000 people are still missing, according to the UN. The deadly earthquakes may have affected about seven million people. According to UN Migration, available population and damage data indicate that “up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24”. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said on Friday that the death toll could continue to rise.
Several foreign nationals were also confirmed among the dead, including 28 Portuguese, 7 Chinese, 9 Spanish, 2 Brazilian, 1 Chilean, 1 Italian-Venezuelan and 1 Uruguayan. As many as 24 countries have sent 521 tonnes of supplies, 86 units with dogs trained to locate people trapped under the rubble and more than 2,700 search and rescue workers, AFP quoted Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodriguez as saying.
