Miguel Rojas said his wife and two children were safe after successive earthquakes hit Venezuela while they were visiting Caracas. He learned they were near the shaking just before the Dodgers played in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Rojas said his wife was in Caracas to renew her passport, while his children were trying to get Venezuelan citizenship. He also said his sister was in Venezuela, and that he had been talking daily with his family members while they were still there.
Rojas on Caracas and La Guaira
The quakes were magnitude 7.2 and magnitude 7.5. Rojas said two buildings collapsed two blocks from where his family was, and he described the damage in stark terms with a line that fit the scale of the destruction: “Literally two blocks away from where my family was, two buildings collapsed — the whole building.”
La Guaira was left in ruins, with more than 770 buildings collapsed and at least 1,450 people killed, according to local authorities. While Rojas’ family was safe, the earthquakes still reached far beyond one household and into a coastal area where the damage was severe.
Dodgers and Padres wear VZ
Before Friday’s game against the Padres in San Diego, Rojas said he was trying to bring his family back to the United States as soon as possible. He added, “I’m lucky, to be honest with you guys. I’m really lucky to have my family still alive and with me. I’m not taking this for granted.”
The Dodgers and Padres also wore caps with “VZ” embroidered on the side on Friday in Petco Park. Rojas said that gesture mattered because it brought awareness, and he added, “We are on one of the biggest stages in sports, and I really appreciate what the Dodgers do to support us.”
For Rojas, the immediate worry has eased, but the family’s return is still the next practical step. The earthquakes put his wife, children, and sister close to the damage; the task now is getting them back to the United States after a dangerous trip that began in Caracas.
