– LA GUAIRA, Venezuela
Lucas Trejo, a 38-year-old Argentine defender who plays for Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira in the Venezuelan second division, suffered a devastating loss. His wife, Yanina Maranella, and their two children, Aarón and Ainhoa, died when their apartment building in Playa Grande collapsed during the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Trejo was in Caracas with his team at the time and quickly returned to join the search efforts.
The two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, occurred just 39 seconds apart. They caused widespread destruction, especially in La Guaira and Caracas, and were the strongest earthquake to hit Venezuela in over a century. Rescue teams worked for approximately 74 hours amidst the rubble and aftershocks before recovering the bodies of Trejo's wife and children.
Trejo's club issued an official statement expressing its deepest condolences. It confirmed the loss after the intense search and assured the player that the entire Marítimo La Guaira family was with him, offering support and solidarity during this painful time. The tragedy has affected numerous members of the Venezuelan football community.
The disaster has left at least 1,450 dead across the country, more than 3,150 injured, and over 46,000 missing. La Guaira was declared a disaster zone, where collapsed buildings and infrastructure damage have greatly hampered rescue operations.
Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, Trejo played professionally in several countries before joining his current club earlier this year. Friends, teammates, and fans from Argentina and Venezuela have shared messages of condolence, respecting the family's need for privacy in their grief.