Trejo Family Lost
Argentine Footballer Lucas Trejo's Wife, Two Children Found Dead After Venezuela Earthquakes
Key Points
The earthquakes in the Caracas-La Guaira region on June 24 registered at 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, with a death toll that rose above 1,400 people.
Trejo had a brief spell in Mexican football with Zacatepec in Liga Expansión MX before his time with Deportivo La Guaira.
Teammate and family friend Edson Tortolero publicly announced the discovery of Trejo’s wife and children on Instagram and had joined rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the quakes.
Trejo’s father and brother traveled to Venezuela to assist in the search for his missing wife and children.
The bodies of Yanina Maranella and the two children were found in the rubble after the Playa Grande building collapse, ending the 74-hour search.
The bodies of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo's wife and two young children were found in the rubble of a collapsed building in Playa Grande, Venezuela, ending a desperate 74-hour search Marca. The family — Yanina Maranella and children Aarón and Ainhoa — perished after twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck the Caracas-La Guaira region on June 24, killing more than 1,430 people IBTimes SG.
Trejo, a 38-year-old defender for Deportivo La Guaira known as 'El General,' had been with his club when the quakes hit. He lost contact with his family that evening and spent days searching through the wreckage alongside teammates, his father, and his brother, who flew in from Argentina Head Topics.
Twin Earthquakes Strike 39 Seconds Apart, Leveling Buildings
The disaster began at 6:04 PM local time on June 24 with a magnitude 7.2 foreshock near San Felipe, Yaracuy. Just 39 seconds later, a more powerful 7.5 mainshock hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Seismologists say the sequence was especially deadly. The first quake weakened structures, and the second finished them off Marca.
The Playa Grande area of La Guaira suffered some of the worst damage. The building where Maranella and the children were staying collapsed completely. Experts say the Caracas-La Guaira corridor sits on the San Sebastián fault system, a boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. This was the most powerful quake to hit Venezuela since 1900 NE Herald.
Trejo Joined the Search as Hope Slowly Faded
After losing contact with his family on the night of June 24, Trejo posted public appeals on Instagram. He confirmed the 'Plaza Grande' building had collapsed and begged for help. His father and brother traveled from Argentina to join the search on June 26 IBTimes SG.
Teammate Edson Tortolero was one of the first to join rescue operations at the site. After 74 hours, recovery teams finally located the three bodies in the rubble. Tortolero broke the news publicly on Instagram, writing: 'We inform all the people of Venezuela and Argentina that the bodies of Lucas Trejo's family members have been found lifeless' Head Topics.
Football Community Mourns as League Play Suspends Indefinitely
Deportivo La Guaira and Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira both issued statements of condolence after the deaths were confirmed. Both clubs asked the public to respect the family's privacy during this time. Venezuelan league play has been suspended indefinitely following the disaster NE Herald.
Clubs across Venezuela and Argentina, including Monagas SC and Deportivo Táchira, posted messages of solidarity. The tragedy also raised concerns about a potential exodus of foreign players from the Venezuelan league. Many have lost their homes or been displaced by the destruction Marca.
Venezuela's Wider Disaster: 50,000 Missing, $8.7 Billion in Damage
The human toll across Venezuela is staggering. The official death count stands at more than 1,430, but independent groups warn the real number is far higher. UN estimates put the number of missing between 50,000 and 68,900. Communication and road access to many coastal towns remain cut off IBTimes SG.
Early damage estimates range from $4.7 billion to $8.7 billion. La Guaira's international airport suffered serious damage. Over 3,000 people are officially displaced, though NGOs expect that number to climb. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and is coordinating with the U.S. and UN for aid. The U.S. has pledged $150 million in disaster relief NE Herald.
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