Mother gives her life to save daughter in Venezuela quake horror

A mother has sacrificed her life to protect her young daughter during the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

The incident become a symbol of courage and heartbreak for the entire nation.

Andrea, the wife of Venezuelan footballer Héctor Bello, died after shielding their daughter beneath the rubble of a collapsed building during last week's powerful earthquakes.

However, the child was rescued alive and is receiving treatment in hospital.

Paying tribute to his late wife in a series of emotional Instagram posts, Bello said Andrea held onto their daughter until her final breath.

"One day I will tell our daughter how you saved her. I will tell her that you gave your life so she could live. You were a brave mother who never let go of her child until your last breath," he wrote.

Bello rushed to Caracas after learning of the disaster and later confirmed that his daughter and her aunt had survived the collapse.

"My daughter and her aunt are doing well, although they are not being discharged from hospital today. Thank you to everyone who has stood by us during this unbearable time," he said in another post.

In a separate Instagram Story, the grieving footballer expressed his anguish over the tragedy.

"How will I explain to my daughter that her mother gave her life to save hers? I wasn't there. I couldn't do anything. Give me strength," he wrote.

Venezuelan sports organisation Cumana de Campeones confirmed that Andrea's body was recovered from the collapsed building, while her daughter was miraculously rescued alive.

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision also confirmed her death.

The disaster has also claimed the lives of other members of Venezuela's football community.

Caracas FC said its Under-18 player Razan Siza was killed alongside family members when their home in La Guaira collapsed. Meanwhile, Club Sport San Agustín confirmed the death of academy player Víctor Palacios, describing his loss as "an irreplaceable void."

Former Miss Venezuela Giselle Reyes also revealed that her mother died after suffering a heart attack following the collapse of her apartment building in La Guaira. According to Reyes, the family's caregiver survived and informed relatives of the tragedy.

According to the latest official figures, the twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck near Caracas on June 24 have claimed at least 920 lives, while more than 3,360 people have been injured. Thousands remain missing as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble, with international humanitarian assistance arriving to support ongoing relief efforts.