- Sophia, 14, and her godmother Claret were found dead together in the rubble of a collapsed 9-story beachfront condo building north of Caracas, Venezuela.
- Sophia's brother Diego, 18, survived after being trapped for 8 hours and rescued by family and neighbors digging with their hands.
- The family has ties to Carmel Valley, California; a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with memorial and medical expenses.
A Carmel Valley woman, Adriana Prag, received devastating news Sunday: the body of her 14-year-old niece, Sophia, had been recovered from the rubble of a collapsed condo building in Venezuela. Sophia was found clutching her godmother, Claret, who also died in the earthquake that struck Wednesday evening.
Earthquake Strikes Beachfront Complex
The 9-story building north of Caracas collapsed during a series of earthquakes. Sophia was doing homework in her godmother's 7th-floor condo. Her brother Diego, 18, was in their family's 5th-floor unit when the quake hit. He didn't feel the shaking—only the building's collapse when he opened the refrigerator.
Dramatic Rescue of Diego
Family members raced back to find the building gone. They heard Diego's voice calling, 'I'm alive! I'm alive! I'm alive!' For eight hours, relatives and neighbors dug with their hands and basic tools before pulling him out. Diego suffered severe leg and back injuries but survived—one of only a handful rescued.
Search for Sophia
Sophia's father hired a bulldozer crew. Volunteers, including 100 mineral miners and a Spanish rescue unit, joined the search. After four days, Sophia's body was found Sunday.
Local California Context
Adriana Prag lives in Carmel Valley, California, a community in Monterey County. The tragedy highlights the far-reaching impact of natural disasters on families with international ties. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with memorial and medical costs.
Community Response
Prag described Sophia as caring, a girl who loved to dance and taught herself English. 'We are grateful she was found. We are just one family of thousands. Some have lost the entire family,' she said.