A total of 920 people have been killed in the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, following two powerful quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude that hit the country just minutes apart on Wednesday evening, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced.
The death toll could rise significantly in the coming days, while 3,360 people have been injured. The second earthquake is believed to have been the strongest to strike the country in more than a century.
Nearly 55,000 people are still listed as missing. Families have been sharing photographs of their loved ones, from whom they have received no information, on the missing persons reporting website.
Among the victims was the courageous mother Andrea, who was pulled from the rubble after shielding her baby with her own body. Miraculously, the child survived and was rescued in time.
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Her husband, Héctor Bello, a defender for second-division side Marítimo de La Guaira, paid tribute to his wife Andrea after their apartment building collapsed in the Venezuela earthquake.
In emotional posts on social media, Bello shared his grief:
“You left us alone in this fight, Mom. You left me completely alone with our daughter. How am I supposed to explain this to our daughter? Andrea, how do I explain to your daughter that you lost your life to save hers, and I wasn’t there to do anything in that moment? How do I explain it? Give me strength now, because I can’t go on anymore. You will forever be our favorite hero, Mom. I’ll make sure our baby remembers how wonderful you were, how much you loved her. I’ll tell her how you saved her, how you gave your life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who, even with your final breath, never abandoned her. You would smile with so much love, and your cheeks would turn red. Oh, Andrea, Mom, I can’t bear this, my love, I truly can’t,” Héctor wrote.
Héctor, also known as “Kike,” plays as a central defender and spent most of his career with Zulia FC. His posts deeply moved fans and the wider public, with numerous messages of support pouring in for the family.
The couple had welcomed their daughter Alana just a few months earlier. The Venezuelan Football Federation also confirmed the death of another player, Hordeilis Pereira, underscoring the scale of the tragedy within the country’s sporting community.
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24. The tremors caused massive destruction, particularly in coastal areas, including La Guaira state, where the family lived.
Terrifying satellite images show devastated neighborhoods, with buildings reduced to rubble. Many residents woke up in shock to find collapsed buildings and cracked roads, while helicopters circled overhead.
According to estimates by the USGS, the eventual death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people.
The United Nations said that a “massive joint effort” is needed, while the leaders of Mexico, Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Canada have pledged to send aid.
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