Lucas Gámez, Argentine child, found dead after Venezuela earthquakes

A double earthquake struck the Venezuelan state of La Guaira on 24 June, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The tremors caused the collapse of the Miramar building in Caraballeda, trapping several occupants. Among them was 9‑year‑old Lucas Gámez, an Argentine‑born child of Venezuelan parents who was visiting relatives.

Lucas disappeared in the rubble and a multinational rescue effort – involving teams from Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Jordan and other countries – searched for him for two weeks. On 8 July, rescue crews located his body, together with that of two relatives, among the wreckage of the collapsed structure.

The family had kept the public informed through social media, sharing the day‑to‑day progress of the operation and marking the child's ninth birthday with a cake placed at the site. After the confirmation of his death, his mother, Blancalida Martínez, posted an emotional farewell, describing the loss as “the deepest and blackest pain” and promising to build something wonderful in his memory.

The tragedy highlighted the broader humanitarian impact of the June earthquakes, which have caused thousands of deaths, injuries and extensive damage across Venezuela, while also drawing significant attention in Argentina where Lucas was born.