By Paul Joseph
Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has been plunged into mourning after the bodies of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and their two children, Aarón and Ainhoa, were recovered following a 72-hour search after the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.
Trejo was in Caracas with his club, Deportivo La Guaira, for a league match when powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes struck the South American country on Wednesday, June 24, triggering widespread destruction.
His club confirmed the heartbreaking loss in a statement, expressing solidarity with the defender and his family.
“We join the grief that overwhelms player Lucas Trejo over the painful passing of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and his children, Aarón and Ainhoa. May they rest in peace, and may Lucas and all his loved ones find strength during this difficult time,” the club said.
The search for Trejo’s family lasted three days before fellow footballer Edson Tortolero announced on Saturday night that rescue teams had recovered their bodies.
“We inform the people of Venezuela and Argentina that the bodies of Lucas Trejo’s family members have been found. We thank everyone for their support and ask for the utmost respect for his family during this time,” Tortolero wrote on social media.
He added: “We pray for eternal life for them and thank the family members, pastors, players and supporters who stood with Lucas throughout the search.”
Hours before the tragic discovery, Trejo had shared a family photograph on social media, showing himself, his wife and their children together.
The disaster has claimed at least 1,430 lives, according to Venezuelan authorities, while more than 2,300 people have been injured and over 3,000 displaced.
The tragedy has also affected other members of the football community. Marítimo de La Guaira player Héctor Bello recently confirmed that his wife, Andrea Bello, died while shielding their one-year-old daughter, Alana, from the collapsing building during the earthquake.
Paying tribute to his late wife, Bello wrote: “You’ll always be our favourite hero. I’ll make sure our daughter remembers how wonderful you were and how you gave your life to save hers.”
Rescue operations continue across the affected regions as emergency responders search collapsed buildings for possible survivors amid one of Venezuela’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
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