Ex-MLB Star Alfonzo Frantically Searches for Family Amid Venezuela Quake Rubble

Venezuelan baseball icon, Eliezer Alfonzo, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, was seen on Friday tirelessly sifting through a huge pile of debris, desperate to locate his wife and daughter. The two family members became trapped inside a hotel following the devastating twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela last week. Alfonzo, a 47-year-old catcher who previously played for teams like the San Francisco Giants, has been actively involved in the search at the collapsed hotel in Macuto, located in the coastal region of La Guaira, which was severely impacted by the tremors on June 24.

This catastrophic event has claimed over 2,600 lives, with thousands still unaccounted for, marking it as one of Latin America's most severe earthquake disasters. Alfonzo recounted that his 16-year-old daughter, Eliana Patricia, and her mother, Patricia Alejandra, were on the fourth floor of the hotel when the powerful quakes struck. A glimmer of hope emerged on Friday afternoon when their 3-month-old dog, Mila, was discovered alive. Mila's barks were instrumental in alerting both American and local rescue teams to the potential presence of survivors.

"If my daughter’s dog turned up, I think they’re both there because I know they’re quite resilient,” Alfonzo shared with AFP, his voice filled with a mix of hope and anguish. The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, leading to the complete collapse of nearly 200 structures, including entire residential complexes.

On the day the earthquakes hit, Alfonzo recalled that his wife and daughter were preparing to join him for a game with the Delfines de La Guaira, the team he manages in Venezuela’s Major Professional Baseball League (LMBP). Before the arrival of American rescue personnel, a team of 20 miners from Tumeremo, a gold-rich town in southern Bolívar state, had already begun tunnelling through the wreckage of the eight-story hotel.

Alfonzo indicated that in recent hours, advanced tests have been conducted within the twisted concrete and metal to detect any signs of life. He added, "The dogs are showing signs of life," referring to the trained rescue dogs, as he strived to maintain his composure. The former Major Leaguer, who debuted with the Giants in 2006 and played for six seasons, affirmed his unwavering commitment: "Until I have them in my arms, I’ll continue to believe they’re alive. I will stay until the end."