CARACAS, VENEZUELA – Lucas Trejo, an Argentine footballer who plays for Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, has suffered a heartbreaking personal loss after his wife and two young children were confirmed dead following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.
The tragedy came after an intensive search lasting more than 70 hours. Trejo had publicly appealed for help in locating his family after two powerful earthquakes struck parts of Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction and the collapse of residential buildings, including the apartment where his family lived in La Guaira.
His club confirmed that the bodies of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and their two children, Aarón and Ainhoa, were recovered from the rubble. The club expressed its condolences to the player and appealed for privacy as he mourns the loss of his family. Fellow footballer Edson Tortolero also confirmed the deaths and asked supporters to keep Trejo in their prayers.
Before the tragic discovery, Trejo had used social media to seek assistance after losing contact with his family. Reports said he rushed from Caracas, where he had been with his team, to La Guaira and joined rescue efforts in the desperate search for his loved ones. His relatives and teammates also took part in the operation.
The earthquakes have left thousands of families across Venezuela grieving. Authorities say the disaster has claimed more than 1,400 lives, injured thousands of people and displaced many residents, making it one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than a century. Rescue workers continue to search damaged buildings for survivors while emergency agencies provide relief to affected communities.
The football community has responded with an outpouring of sympathy for Trejo. Players, clubs and supporters from different countries have shared messages of support, describing the loss as one of the most painful tragedies to affect a professional footballer in recent years.
The death of Trejo’s wife and children has also highlighted the human cost of the Venezuela earthquake, which has left countless families mourning loved ones and searching for missing relatives. As rescue and recovery operations continue, attention remains on supporting survivors and helping affected communities rebuild after the disaster.
