The wife and two young children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were found dead on Saturday evening after a 74-hour search, following the collapse of their apartment building in Playa Grande, La Guaira, during the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June. Confirmation came from the defender's club, Deportivo La Guaira, and from fellow player Edson Tortolero, who had joined rescue efforts at the site. Trejo, 38, had been in Caracas preparing for a cup match when the quakes hit, and he returned immediately to search for his family, issuing public appeals on social media as rescue teams from El Salvador and local volunteers worked through the debris.

According to Venezuelan authorities and the United Nations migration agency, the earthquakes – with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 – caused widespread destruction across coastal and central regions of the country, with La Guaira state among the areas hardest hit. The provisional death toll has been reported by Venezuelan officials as 1,430 to 1,500, with more than 3,000 injured. Estimates of the missing vary: UN humanitarian officials have warned the number could exceed 50,000, while some local reports cite nearly 70,000 unaccounted for. The agency said up to 6.76 million people may have been affected.

Other members of Venezuela's football community have also been killed. Three youth players – Yimvert Berroterán, Víctor Palacios, and Ricardo Veloz – died in the disaster, triggering tributes from clubs and national sporting bodies. Former Major League Baseball player Gorkys Hernández confirmed his wife was among the dead. International assistance has included 2,700 rescue personnel from 24 countries, 521 tonnes of supplies, and a commitment of $150 million in aid from the United States, according to statements from the interim Venezuelan leadership and relief organisations.

Trejo, who is from Córdoba, Argentina, had built much of his professional career in Venezuela, captaining Monagas SC to a league title in 2017 before moving to Deportivo La Guaira. Family members said he personally removed rubble for days in the hope of finding survivors. The search operation is continuing in multiple affected areas, with authorities warning that casualty figures remain provisional and recovery work could extend for weeks. The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency and restricted access to some zones as international rescue teams coordinate with local forces.