Members of Venezuelan band Van Der Dijs die in earthquakes

Tragedy has struck Venezuela's emerging music scene with the deaths of all four members of the band Van Der Dijs following earthquakes on June 24. The musicians, vocalist Manuel Van Der Dijs, guitarist Gabriel Gómez, bassist Xander Hernández, and drummer Abraham Foucault, were rehearsing in a building in La Guaira when the powerful tremors hit.

La Guaira, one of the areas most devastated by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, was subsequently declared a disaster zone. Reports indicate the band was in the Costanar II building in the Tanaguarena sector when the seismic activity began. While there were initial unconfirmed reports that bassist Xander Hernández had been taken to a local hospital alive, he later died during treatment.

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In the history of the CCAM, their talent remained, and above all, their overflowing energy, their sympathy, and their desire to make their mark on the stages with their music.

The Centro Cultural de Arte Moderno de Caracas (CCAM) confirmed the loss, sharing a statement on Instagram mourning the musicians' passion and talent. The cultural center remembered their "overflowing energy, their sympathy, and their desire to make their mark on the stages with their music." The band had performed at the CCAM just a week prior to the earthquakes.

Van Der Dijs, formed in 2024, was gaining traction in Venezuela's independent music scene with its distinctive fusion of rap and nu-metal. They had participated in the Festival Nuevas Bandas, a platform supporting alternative music projects, and were scheduled for a performance in Punto Fijo on June 27. Their growing fanbase and promising career were cut short by the devastating natural disaster.

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Today we send our condolences to the families, friends, and followers of these young and outstanding artists. This is how we will always remember them.