Families of Two Football Players Killed in Venezuela Earthquakes The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last Wednesday, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, have claimed at least 1,719 lives, with families of two professional footballers among the victims. The disaster has left communities in devastation, with rescue teams working tirelessly to locate survivors amid the rubble. The quakes, the most powerful in Venezuela since 1900, have also prompted international aid efforts, as the death toll is expected to rise significantly. Lucas Trejo, an Argentinian footballer signed to Club Sport Marítimo of La Guaira, lost his wife, Yanina, and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa, in the catastrophe. Trejo, who was training with his team in Caracas when the earthquakes struck, returned to his hometown of La Guaira, which was heavily damaged. His brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, described the aftermath as “absolutely nothing” remaining of their home. Trejo spent three days searching through the rubble for his family before their bodies were recovered by rescue workers. Another local player, Héctor Bello, lost his wife, Andrea, who died shielding their infant daughter when their home collapsed. The child, Alana, was later found by rescuers, local media reported. She is in a stable condition alongside her aunt, according to Bello, who was away from home when the earthquake struck. “You gave your own life for our daughter … you were a brave woman who never abandoned her, even as you took your last breaths,” he wrote in an Instagram post. According to Venezuelan football officials, the disaster also claimed the lives of youth players Victor Palacios and Razan Sijaa. Palacios played for Club Sport San Augustín’s academy.#venezuela #caracas #club_sport_maritimo #la_guaira #swiss_rescue_team
