A rising Venezuelan rock band was wiped out in a horrifying tragedy after all four members were reportedly killed when powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela on June 24.
The nü-metal group Van Der Dijs had been rehearsing in La Guaira when the building they were inside suddenly collapsed, according to local outlet El Universal. Rescue crews later recovered the bodies of vocalist Manuel van der Dijs, guitarist Gabriel Gómez, bassist Xander Hernández, and drummer Abraham Foucault from the rubble of the Costamar II building, Últimas Noticias reported.
The heartbreaking news stunned Venezuela’s independent music scene, where the young band had only recently begun building a name for itself.
The deaths were confirmed by the Cultural Center of Modern Art of Caracas, known as CCAM, which remembered the musicians in an emotional statement shared on Instagram.
“The band’s talent — and above all, its boundless energy, its warmth, and its desire to leave its mark on the stage with its music — remain part of the CCAM’s history,” the venue wrote.
“Today we send our condolences to the family, friends, and followers of these young and outstanding artists,” the message continued. “That way, we will always remember them.”
The tragedy came just days before Van Der Dijs was supposed to take the stage again.
The band had been scheduled to perform June 27 in Punto Fijo, a show they had been promoting on social media before disaster struck. They were set to appear alongside another local act.
Formed in 2024, Van Der Dijs had been gaining attention for its hard-hitting mix of rap and nü-metal. The group had performed at last year’s Urban Music Festival and had also recently played Caracas Music Hall with the band Bucle Lunar.
On Instagram, the band’s pinned post shows the four musicians together — a now-haunting image that has become a gathering place for devastated fans.
“Long live the Rock, long live the legacy of Van Der Dijs. Rest in peace,” one person wrote.
“Rest in peace, guys,” another fan commented.
“Such a shame,” a third wrote.
The musicians’ deaths come as Venezuela continues to reel from the devastating earthquakes and aftershocks that left communities shaken, buildings damaged, and rescue crews searching through debris for victims.
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