A wife and two young children of Argentine soccer player Lucas Trejo were found dead Saturday night after a 72-hour search following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela late June 24. Venezuelan authorities described the events as a severe seismic doublet, with initial magnitudes reported at 7.2 and 7.5. The nation continues to cope with widespread destruction, a mounting death toll and thousands displaced.

Deportivo La Guaira, Trejo’s club, announced the family’s deaths on social media and expressed condolences for the player. Fellow players and local community members joined search efforts over three days before authorities located the bodies. Teammates and clergy issued public messages asking for privacy and support for Trejo and his relatives.

Officials in Venezuela reported a rapidly rising casualty count in the days after the quakes. Government figures released in the wake of the disaster placed the death toll above 1,400, with more than 2,300 injured and over 3,000 people rendered homeless. Emergency teams continued rescue and recovery operations amid aftershocks and damage to roads, buildings and critical infrastructure.

Other families connected to the soccer community also suffered losses. A player from Marítimo de La Guaira announced the death of his wife, who reportedly shielded their infant during the tremors. Accounts from teammates and social posts described scenes of mourning and tribute as local communities organized makeshift shelters and relief efforts.

Humanitarian agencies and local authorities mobilized to provide medical care, temporary housing and food distribution to affected areas, while engineers assessed structural damage to determine where rescues could continue safely. Power outages and interrupted communications complicated coordination in remote and hard-hit zones.

As rescue teams shift toward recovery and identification efforts, officials urged residents to follow safety guidance for aftershocks and to use official channels for information on missing persons and aid distribution. International and regional partners signaled offers of assistance as Venezuela faced the immediate humanitarian and logistical challenges of a major seismic disaster.