Argentine defender Lucas Trejo has suffered a personal tragedy after his wife and two young children were recovered dead from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed during the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s northern coast, the player’s club confirmed. Rescue teams ended a 74-hour effort at the site in Playa Grande, La Guaira, where the family lived.
Lucas Trejo: the latest update
Club Sport Maritimo de La Guaira issued a statement identifying the deceased as Trejo’s wife, Yanina Maranella, and the couple’s children, Aaron and Ainhoa. The club said it “joins in the grief that overwhelms the player” and asked for peace for the family’s souls and comfort for Trejo and his loved ones. According to the club and local rescue officials, the bodies were recovered after sustained search-and-rescue operations at the collapsed building.
What the club confirmed
In its official message the club named the family members and confirmed the outcome of the recovery operation. The statement expressed solidarity with Trejo and his relatives and thanked emergency teams working at the scene. Club Sport Maritimo’s confirmation, together with statements from local rescue authorities involved in the operation, serves as the basis for the identities and the conclusion of the multi-day search.
What happened in Playa Grande
The disaster followed two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s northern coastline. Reports indicate magnitudes of about 7.2 and 7.5. The shaking caused widespread structural damage in coastal towns, and an apartment building in Playa Grande, La Guaira, collapsed. Firefighters, military personnel and volunteers worked at the site amid unstable rubble and dangerous conditions; their efforts continued for roughly 74 hours before the recovery described above was completed.
Key details from the report
Trejo was in Caracas with the team when the quakes hit and traveled to the disaster area as search operations proceeded. During the search he posted on social media asking for information and prayers, saying he did not know the whereabouts of his family after the collapse. Members of Trejo’s family — including his father and brother — traveled from Argentina and joined local efforts, according to reports. The response included coordination among municipal and national emergency services, and community volunteers worked alongside trained rescuers.
The news prompted widespread messages of mourning across the South American soccer community. Friends and colleagues posted condolences and appeals for privacy for Trejo as he and his family contend with the aftermath. A close friend, Edson Tortolero, publicly expressed his heartbreak and asked for strength for Trejo in the days ahead.
- Location: Playa Grande, La Guaira, Venezuela
- Events: Two strong earthquakes reported (approx. magnitude 7.2 and 7.5)
- Search duration at collapsed building: about 74 hours
- Confirmed deaths in this family: Yanina Maranella (wife), Aaron and Ainhoa (children), as named by Club Sport Maritimo de La Guaira
- Sources: Club Sport Maritimo statement and local rescue officials, as reported by news outlets
What to watch next
Authorities and relief organizations will continue searching damaged areas and compiling verified casualty and damage assessments. Official numbers for the wider quake impact may change as teams finish searching collapsed buildings and check affected communities; initial tallies in major disasters often are revised.
For Trejo, the immediate weeks are likely to focus on funeral arrangements, family support and bereavement. Clubs commonly provide time off, counseling resources and public tributes in such circumstances; Sport Maritimo may announce specific support measures or memorial plans. Observers should watch for any statements from the club about leaves of absence, memorials or fund drives to assist the family and relief efforts.
On a broader level, the quakes could prompt additional national and international aid, structural assessments of vulnerable coastal housing, and renewed attention to emergency preparedness in coastal communities. Humanitarian and government agencies will likely coordinate assessments to determine where resources and rebuilding efforts are most needed.
What this means now
The confirmed deaths put a human face on the larger disaster unfolding along Venezuela’s coast and underscore the difficult work emergency teams face in locating and identifying victims amid collapsed structures. For Trejo and his teammates, this is a personal loss with immediate emotional and practical consequences; for local communities, it is a reminder of the fragility of infrastructure in powerful seismic events. As officials complete searches and verify figures, the focus will shift to recovery, support for survivors and planning for longer-term assistance.
We will update this story as clubs, authorities and credible news organizations publish further verified information and as officials provide more complete casualty counts and details about relief operations.
Source attribution: Club Sport Maritimo de La Guaira (club statement) and local rescue officials, as reported by news organizations including Fox News. Original reporting: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/argentine-soccer-player-lucas-trejo-loses-wife-two-children-venezuela-earthquake-building-collapse
