Journalist Melissa De Sousa and mother's bodies recovered from collapsed building in Los Corales

Rescue teams working in Venezuela's La Guaira state have recovered the bodies of journalist Melissa De Sousa Visconti and her mother, Luraima Visconti De Sousa. The recovery took place at the Residencias Bahía Mar building on La Costanera avenue, which collapsed during the twin earthquakes that struck the region on June 24.

Melissa De Sousa was a dedicated journalist for the newspaper El Universal, contributing to both its print and digital platforms. Colleagues remember her as a committed professional with a kind demeanor and a proactive approach to her work. Her family resided on the second floor of the Residencias Bahía Mar building, one of the structures most severely impacted by the earthquakes.

Search efforts are ongoing for Melissa De Sousa's father, Rafael De Sousa Visconti. Civil Protection teams and rescue brigades are continuing to remove debris from the collapsed structure in their search for him. The family confirmed the discovery of the mother and daughter, but the father's whereabouts remain unknown.