Former MLB catcher Eliezer Alfonzo has been digging through the ruins of an eight-story hotel in Macuto, La Guaira, searching for his wife Patricia Alejandra and 16-year-old daughter Eliana Patricia after the June 24 earthquakes. Rescuers found the family’s three-month-old dog, Mila, alive; her barking helped alert teams to possible survivors. Miners from Tumeremo and international rescue teams have tunneled and run tests for signs of life among collapsed structures. Alfonzo, 47, who debuted in MLB in 2006 and now manages Delfines de La Guaira, says he will remain at the site until he finds his family.
Ex-MLB Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Scrambles Through Rubble Searching for Wife and Daughter After Devastating Venezuela Quakes
Former Major League baseball player Eliezer Alfonzo told AFP he hasn't lost hope for the rescue of his wife and daughter from the rubble of the Eduard's Hotel in Macuto, Venezuela (Juan BARRETO)(Juan BARRETO/AFP/AFP)
Former Major League Baseball catcher Eliezer Alfonzo spent Friday clawing through a massive pile of rubble in a desperate search for his wife, Patricia Alejandra, and their 16-year-old daughter, Eliana Patricia, after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24. The collapse of an eight-story hotel in Macuto, coastal La Guaira, has become one of the focal points of rescue efforts in one of Latin America’s deadliest recent quakes.
Search Efforts and a Glimmer of Hope
Rescuers and volunteers recovered the family’s three-month-old puppy, Mila, alive on Friday; the dog’s frantic barking helped alert teams to possible survivors inside the wreckage. Alfonzo, 47, told AFP that Mila’s discovery gave him hope. "If my daughter's dog turned up, I think they're both there because I know they're quite resilient," he said.
Before American rescue teams arrived, a group of about 20 miners from Tumeremo—a gold-rich town in southern Bolívar state—tunneled into the hotel debris to reach trapped sections. Trained search dogs have indicated signs of life beneath the twisted concrete, and technical teams have been running tests to detect signs of survivors.
Human Toll and Local Impact
Authorities report more than 2,600 fatalities and thousands still missing from the June 24 earthquakes, which flattened nearly 200 structures, including entire residential complexes across coastal and nearby areas. Macuto and other towns in La Guaira were among the hardest hit.
Alfonzo: From MLB To Local Manager
Alfonzo made his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2006 and played parts of six seasons in MLB. He now manages Delfines de La Guaira in Venezuela’s Major Professional Baseball League (LMBP). He said his wife and daughter had been preparing to join him at a Delfines game when the tremors struck.
"Until I have them in my arms, I'll continue to believe they're alive," Alfonzo said. "I will stay until the end."
Rescue operations continue amid difficult conditions, with international teams, local volunteers and specialist crews coordinating efforts to find survivors and recover the missing.
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