“Dominican Isaías Tejeda experienced moments of panic after an earthquake in Venezuela during a baseball game”

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Santo Domingo.— Dominican baseball player Isaías Tejeda experienced moments of great tension after being caught by the strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake that shook Venezuela while he was playing an official game in the Major Summer League.

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Tejeda, a 34-year-old first baseman, was in the city of Barquisimeto defending the colors of Guerreros de Lara in a match against Caciques del Distrito when the seismic movement abruptly interrupted the game in the top of the third inning.

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“It was an extremely strong tremor; we were in the middle of the game and the stadium lights and towers started to move,” recounted Tejeda, describing the distressing seconds experienced by players, coaches, and fans inside the stadium.

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The situation caused the immediate suspension of the match and the preventive evacuation of the venue. Given the structural risk, players, coaching staff, and support personnel sought refuge in safe areas. Fortunately, no injuries were reported inside the stadium thanks to the quick reaction of everyone present.

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Although the earthquake was felt strongly in Barquisimeto, Tejeda indicated that the greatest damage was recorded in La Guaira and Caracas, where significant infrastructure damage was reported.

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Through videos sent by league colleagues, the player was able to observe the magnitude of the damage, including the collapse of a hotel where the Delfines de La Guaira team previously stayed at the beginning of the season.

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Tejeda, who arrived in Venezuela approximately two months ago to participate in the summer circuit, faced this emergency far from his family. Subsequently, he managed to communicate with his loved ones in the Dominican Republic to inform them that he was out of danger.

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With an extensive professional career, Isaías Tejeda has been part of Major League Baseball organizations such as the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. In Dominican winter baseball, he also played for the Leones del Escogido, Águilas Cibaeñas, and Toros del Este.

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In 2023, he shined with Leones del Caracas, the team with which he won the championship and where he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the final series, receiving the Robert Pérez award.

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The testimony of the Dominican baseball player reflects the human impact of this natural disaster and highlights the risks faced by athletes and citizens during large-scale emergencies.

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