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The Martínez family confirmed this Sunday the death of Dayán Martínez, the 10-year-old Cuban boy who had been trapped under the debris of the Coral Beach building in Los Corales, La Guaira state, Venezuela, for more than 11 days.
The news was shared by journalist Jany González on her Facebook account, where she posted the digital obituary issued by the family themselves.
González stated: "All hopes have been extinguished. My deepest condolences to the Martínez family during this time of profound sorrow. It is heartbreaking to learn of the loss of three children, including Dayan, for whom many of us held out hope for good news in recent days."
The notice announces the passing of the three minor family members: "With deep sorrow in our hearts, we want to inform our community that our beloved Vanesa, Ivanna, and Dayan are no longer with us."
Vanesa, Ivanna, and Dayán were cousins. The bodies of both girls were found on June 27, three days after the devastating earthquakes.
The Martínez family concluded their farewell message with a note of gratitude towards those who followed the case: “We wholeheartedly thank each person who prayed, shared our post, sent messages of encouragement, donated, or looked out for us during these very difficult days. Your support was a ray of light in the midst of our deepest darkness.”
The family's tragedy began on June 24, 2026, when two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck just 39 seconds apart, destroying dozens of buildings in the state of La Guaira.
Dayán, a native of Melena del Sur in the Mayabeque province, was playing in the lobby of the Coral Beach building when the earthquake struck, leaving him trapped in the basement with his friend Samuel.
For over a week, his case mobilized thousands of people on social media and attracted international rescue teams from France, the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and Taiwan.
On July 1st, rescuers were able to communicate with the boy and confirm that he was alive alongside Samuel, which generated a wave of hope among his family and followers.
Carleyns Kaina, a relative of the minor, stated at that time: "The correct information is that they found the children, meaning they have already spoken with them, they know it is Dayán and Samuel, and thankfully they found another way to reach them."
However, multiple obstacles hindered the rescue: aftershocks—including one with a magnitude of 4.6 that forced operations to be suspended for at least three hours—and the smell of decomposition that prevented a French team with search dogs from progressing.
On June 29, the father of Dayán, who was present at the scene, made a desperate plea for the authorities to resume the search efforts in the collapsed building where his son remained missing under the rubble. "There is no one there," he stated at the time.
The child's grandmother, Isolina Dávila, had also pleaded days earlier not to abandon the search: "We have already lost two granddaughters. Dayán is the only grandson we have left."
Dayán's father is a Cuban doctor who completed an official mission in Venezuela and decided to stay in the country; the mother resides in Cuba.
Her death occurs within the context of a catastrophe of historic proportions. As of July 4, the official toll of the earthquake had risen to 2,954 fatalities and over 16,000 injured, while the UN estimated up to 50,000 missing throughout the country.
Regarding the Cuban community, at least eight compatriots have been confirmed deceased, and between 20 and 32 remain missing, concentrated in Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and Los Corales.
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