All four members of Venezuelan nu-metal band Van Der Dijs have died following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country last week.
The band – vocalist Manuel van Der Dijs, guitarist Gabriel Gómez, bassist Xander Hernández and drummer Abraham Foucault – were killed after the building where they were rehearsing in La Guaira collapsed.
According to Venezuelan outlet Últimas Noticias, the group were inside the Costamar II building in Tanaguarena when the area was hit by two powerful earthquakes.
Their bodies were later recovered from the rubble by rescue teams.
The earthquakes, which struck northern Venezuela on June 24, registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and caused widespread destruction across the country. More than 1,900 people have been confirmed dead, with thousands more injured and many still missing.
Van Der Dijs were an emerging band in Venezuela’s heavy music scene, blending nu-metal, rap-rock and alternative elements.
The group had been building momentum in recent months and had been due to play further shows in Venezuela, including dates in Punto Fijo and Valencia.
They had recently played a sold-out show at the Centro de Arte Moderno in La Castellana, Caracas, on June 19, just days before the earthquakes, and their official Instagram page had also been promoting upcoming dates in around the country.
The earthquakes have left Venezuela facing a major humanitarian crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed, widespread structural damage and rescue teams continuing to search through collapsed buildings.
La Guaira, the coastal state where the band died, has been among the areas worst affected by the disaster.
The country has also been hit by aftershocks in the days since the initial earthquakes, while international aid and rescue teams have been sent to assist with the response.
