Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo's wife and children found dead in Venezuela quake rubble

Catastrophic earthquakes hit Venezuela

On 24 June 2026, two strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela within hours, causing widespread destruction. Hundreds of buildings collapsed, power and communication lines were severed, and the death toll has surpassed 1,400, making it the deadliest natural disaster in the country in recent memory. In the coastal area of Playa Grande, the Cumanagotto apartment building crumbled entirely.

Family missing, desperate plea

Lucas Trejo, a 38-year-old Argentine professional defender playing for Deportivo La Guaira (Maritimo La Guaira in the Venezuelan second division), was in Caracas preparing for a cup match when the quakes hit. Unable to reach his wife Yanina Maranella and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa, who were at the family's Playa Grande apartment, he posted an anguished appeal on social media.

“Our building in Playa Grande collapsed. I don't know anything about my family. Please pray for them and share this message in case someone saw them. I want to believe they weren't there. Please pray for my family.”

A faint hope emerged when it was revealed that his son had a football training session that day, leading relatives to speculate the family might have left the apartment. Trejo's brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, told media they had held out hope the family had been evacuated or taken to hospital.

Three-day search effort

Teammates Robert Garcés, Edson Tortolero and José Correa immediately mobilised to join the rescue operation, filming videos from the debris to raise awareness and coordinating with professional rescuers. A Salvadoran rescue team worked through the rubble around the clock. For 74 hours, Trejo and his teammates clung to the chance that the family had survived.

Tragic discovery and confirmation

On Saturday 27 June, rescuers recovered the bodies of Yanina Maranella, Aaron and Ainhoa. Edson Tortolero confirmed the tragic outcome on Instagram, thanking everyone who had assisted in the search. Later that day, Deportivo La Guaira released an official statement.

“We share the pain that overwhelms Lucas Trejo following the passing of his wife, Yanina Maranella, and children, Aaron and Ainhoa. May they rest in peace, and our condolences to Lucas and all his loved ones.”

Trejo, who had not had any news of them for three days, posted a single photo of his family together following the discovery.

Football world mourns

Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, Trejo arrived in Venezuela in 2016 and went on to play for six clubs in the country, as well as stints in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. He previously represented Greek side Atromitos and joined La Guaira on a free transfer in February 2026. The tragedy has drawn messages of condolence from across the football community, with players and clubs expressing solidarity with Trejo and all the victims of the earthquakes.