Lake Maracaibo: Father and son found dead after storm

The bodies of two fishermen, Eduardo Villalobos, 51, and his son Emmanuel Villalobos, 19, have been recovered from Lake Maracaibo in Zulia State, Venezuela. The pair was reported missing after being caught in a severe storm involving heavy rains, intense winds, and lightning on September 10.

A joint search operation involving the Directorate of Citizen Security, local artisanal fishing committees, and various rescue bodies located the remains near the Almirante Padilla island municipality. Investigators from the Scientific, Penal, and Criminalistic Investigation Corps (Cicpc) are conducting autopsies, with drowning due to adverse weather conditions being the primary hypothesis.

The storm caused significant disruption across the region, including Maracaibo and San Francisco, with reports of flooding in areas such as Vereda del Lago. Local authorities have urged fishing communities to increase safety precautions during periods of atmospheric instability.