Venezuelan volleyball captain Willner Rivas found dead with family after earthquakes

Willner Rivas, captain of the Venezuelan national volleyball team, was found dead along with his wife Mariángel Pérez and their 1.5-year-old son Theo on July 5, 2026, after being buried under rubble during the double earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24. Source: ABC.es, Clarin

The tragedy

On June 24, a magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquake devastated parts of Venezuela, particularly the state of La Guaira. Rivas, 31, who had recently signed with Spanish club CV Guaguas, was at his home in Residencias Los Monjes, Playa Grande, Catia La Mar. His body and those of his family were found after more than a week of intense search efforts. Source: El Nacional, Heraldo de México

Reaction

The CV Guaguas expressed deep sorrow, stating "Nos unimos al dolor de su familia." Source: ABC.es Coach Sergio Miguel Camarero called it "a tragedy very big" and recalled that the team had followed Rivas for a long time, noting his competitive character and solidarity. Source: Infobae The Venezuelan Volleyball Federation also offered condolences, saying his legacy "dejan una huella imborrable." Source: El Nacional

The disaster's toll

The earthquakes left at least 3,342 dead and 16,740 injured, according to official figures. Source: Clarin International search teams began withdrawing over the weekend as hopes for finding more survivors waned. Source: Clarin