Lower than two hours earlier than the Dodgers took the sector in Minneapolis on Wednesday, a pair of highly effective earthquakes rattled Venezuela, the place the spouse and two youngsters of Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas had been visiting and the place his sister lives.
The successive magnitude 7.2 and seven.5 earthquakes left the nation’s northern coastal state of La Guaira in ruins, collapsing greater than 770 buildings and killing a minimum of 1,450 individuals, native authorities mentioned Sunday.
All of Rojas’ members of the family had been OK, the Venezuelan native instructed reporters forward of Friday’s sport in opposition to the Padres in San Diego.
“Actually two blocks away from the place my household was, two buildings collapsed — the entire constructing,” he mentioned. “I’m fortunate, to be sincere with you guys. I’m actually fortunate to have my household nonetheless alive and with me. I’m not taking this without any consideration.”
Rojas’ spouse and youngsters had been in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, which is just about six miles south of the destruction alongside the coast. His spouse was there to resume her passport, and the youngsters had been going to attempt to get Venezuelan citizenship. His sister was in Los Teques, Rojas’ hometown about 17 miles south of the coastal destruction.
Rescue staff search by means of rubble on Saturday in Catia La Mar following the devastating double earthquakes.
(Fernando Vergara / Related Press)
“It’s actually powerful to see teammates of mine and gamers that I performed with in some unspecified time in the future in my profession to lose members of the family, to lose youngsters,” mentioned Rojas, who had spent years enjoying baseball in La Guaira. “It’s actually devastating. It’s been actually arduous for me to fall asleep at evening.”
Rojas, on Friday, mentioned he was speaking day by day together with his members of the family, who had been nonetheless in Venezuela. He hoped to carry them again to the USA as quickly as potential. Aftershocks continued to rattle the nation into Sunday morning.
Because the Dodgers and Padres began their collection in Petco Park on Friday, each groups wore caps with the letters “VZ” embroidered on the facet to honor the individuals of Venezuela because the street to restoration begins.
“Meaning lots as a result of each groups will likely be doing it — it means lots, as a result of it brings consciousness,” Rojas mentioned.
“We’re on one of many largest levels in sports activities, and I actually respect what the Dodgers do to assist us,” he added. “It’s not simply what occurs now, it’s what’s going to occur sooner or later. It’s going to take a very long time for individuals to get well.”
Occasions workers author Maddie Lee contributed to this report.
