Football player's wife dies while protecting baby daughter during devastating Venezuela earthquakes

Héctor Bello has paid an emotional tribute to his wife, Andrea, who died while saving the life of their daughter in the Venezuela earthquakes.

Venezuela was struck by back-to-back earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude last week, which have wreaked devastation across the country.

Nearly 1,500 people have now died in the catastrophe, as rescue operations continue in the capital Caracas and other hit cities.

One of the victims has been identified as Andrea Bello, the wife of footballer Héctor Bello, who plays for Venezuelan side Marítimo de La Guaira.

It was reported by the publication Cumaná de Campeones that Andrea was found dead in the rubble of the collapsed building where the family lived.

However, their 20-month-old daughter, Alana, was found alive.

Venezuelan footballer pays tribute to 'brave' wife

Héctor Bello took to Instagram in the aftermath of the tragedy to pay tribute to Andrea, posting a carousel of photos of her and the child.

In an emotional statement, translated from Spanish, he posted on Instagram: "You’ll always be our favourite heroine, Mommy.

"I’ll make sure to remind our baby girl how wonderful you were and how much you loved her. I’ll tell her the story of how you saved her, my love, how you gave your own life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who never abandoned her, even as you took your last breaths."

Andrea Bello holds her daughter. (Héctor Bello/Instagram)

Héctor then spoke of his love for Andrea, and how devastated he is have to live on without her.

He continued: "But there’s one thing I can’t forgive you for, Mommy: you left my soul shattered. You left me to fight this battle alone, a fight we always said was ours to face together.

"Do you remember sending me that photo? I told you, "That little girl is so beautiful," and you asked, "Me too, right?" and started laughing. I told you, "Yes, you’re beautiful too, but not as beautiful as me, haha."

"We used to laugh on the phone, and the baby would always hang up the call—or get scared when we used filters, haha; she’d say, "Daddy, no like." Oh, my Andrea... Mommy, you’ve shattered my soul.

"I’ll always remember you, Mommy—always. Remember how I used to tell you that you’d be my woman for the rest of our lives? You’d laugh, looking so in love, and your cheeks would turn red. Oh, Andrea... Mommy, I can’t handle this, my love. I really can’t."

In a further message to his daughter, Héctor wrote: "I need *you* to be the one to heal my heart, because right now it’s in pieces.

"You won’t see your daddy strong and smiling like always, but I promise to heal and make you the happiest girl in the world. Now it’s just you and me—and your mommy, who will be watching over us from heaven. I know Andrea will give me strength; I know she sees what I’m going through and is suffering for us, too.

"But amidst all this pain, I know that if she had just a minute to say something to me, she’d tell me to protect you with my life—just as she did—and never to forget to buy you the bananas you love so much."

The tragedy comes as Héctor's teammate at Marítimo, Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo, died in the natural disaster alongside his family.

Marítimo, have also announced the deaths of U-17 player Ricardo Veloz, U-15 player Victor Palacios, and U-12 player Daniel Dominguez in the earthquakes.

On June 29, it was announced that the death toll had passed 1,450, though the number is expected to rise further as tens of thousands of people are still missing.

Rescue crews from all over the world are still working - and even succeeding - in finding people buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings.