Argentine footballer's wife, two children killed in Venezuela earthquake

Venezuelan top-flight club Deportivo La Guaira has confirmed that Argentine defender Lucas Trejo's wife and two children were killed in the devastating earthquakes that recently struck Venezuela's Yaracuy region.

Trejo's wife, Yanina Maranella, and their children, Aaron and Ainhoa Trejo, had been reported missing after the apartment building where they lived in Playa Grande, one of the worst-hit coastal areas, collapsed during the twin earthquakes. Rescue teams later confirmed their deaths.

Trejo was in Caracas with his club, Maritimo, preparing for an upcoming match when the disaster occurred.

In a statement, Deportivo La Guaira expressed condolences, saying the club shared the grief overwhelming Trejo following the deaths of his wife and children and wished peace for the victims and strength for the player and his loved ones.

Before the tragedy was confirmed, Trejo had launched an urgent search for his family with the help of relatives, volunteers and rescue teams. He also appealed publicly through Instagram, writing that their building had collapsed and urging people to pray and share information, while expressing hope that they had survived.

The United Nations estimated on Saturday that up to 6.76 million people could have been affected by the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

The disaster has claimed nearly 1,000 lives and left tens of thousands of people missing, according to the UN migration agency, based on available population and damage assessments.