Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo is grieving an unimaginable personal loss after rescue teams confirmed the deaths of his wife and children, who had been missing since the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week.

The tragic discovery came late Saturday, ending a desperate 74-hour search that had offered hope his family might still be alive beneath the rubble. Trejo, 38, had spent the past three days anxiously waiting for updates as emergency crews searched through collapsed buildings in the earthquake-hit coastal region.

The heartbreaking news was first shared by Trejo’s close friend and fellow footballer, Edson Tortolero, before being officially confirmed by Trejo’s club, Marítimo de La Guaira.

In a statement, the Venezuelan club expressed its deepest condolences, saying it mourned the devastating loss suffered by its player and asked supporters, the media, and the public to respect the privacy of Trejo, his relatives, and teammates during this incredibly painful time.

Tortolero also addressed the tragedy on social media, announcing that the bodies of Trejo’s family members had been recovered after an extensive search. He thanked everyone who had supported the rescue efforts and offered prayers for the victims, urging people to show compassion and respect for the grieving family.

Although Lucas Trejo has not issued a public statement since the discovery, he had shared an emotional family photograph on social media just hours before the news broke, reflecting his hope that his loved ones would be found alive.

Argentine media reported that Trejo’s father and brother had travelled to Venezuela shortly after the disaster to support him and assist in the search for his missing family.

The tragedy has drawn even greater attention after messages previously shared by Trejo’s wife, Yana, resurfaced online. On the footballer’s birthday in April, she posted a heartfelt tribute celebrating their life together and expressing gratitude for their family.

In the emotional message, Yana described Trejo as the foundation of their family, saying that life beside him was filled with strength, happiness, and purpose. The post has since been widely shared by supporters mourning the family’s loss.

Trejo’s personal tragedy comes as Venezuela continues to battle one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history. Rescue operations remain underway following the twin earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, which struck earlier this week and caused widespread destruction across several regions.

Authorities estimate that nearly 70,000 people remain missing, while rescue workers from multiple countries continue searching through collapsed buildings using heavy machinery, search dogs, and specialized equipment.

The disaster has also claimed the lives of other well-known figures connected to Venezuelan sports. Earlier on Saturday, former Major League Baseball player Gorkys Hernández announced that his wife, Deisy, had died in the earthquake.

According to local reports, Deisy Hernández was staying at a luxury hotel in La Guaira alongside relatives of several players from the La Guaira Delfines baseball team when the powerful earthquakes struck, causing extensive structural damage.

As rescue operations continue across Venezuela, stories like Lucas Trejo’s highlight the immense human cost of the disaster. While emergency teams continue searching for survivors, thousands of families are now mourning loved ones lost in a tragedy that has left an entire nation in grief.