Relatives of Paraguayan first lady disappear in collapse of Miami building

Relatives of the first lady of Paraguay, Silvana Abdo, are among the dozens who disappeared after the partial collapse of a building in Miami.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Euclides Acevedo told the local press that six people from the South American country have not yet been located. Among them are Sophia López Moreira, the sister of the first lady; her husband Luis Pettengill, their three children and the family assistant.

In the midst of the announcement, the president canceled his public activities for the rest of Thursday and Friday in order to be on the lookout for any news about his wife’s sister.

Gilmer Moreira, press director for Paraguay’s presidential palace, told The Associated Press that the first lady planned to fly to Miami, Florida on Thursday night on a private flight.

At least 22 South Americans were among those who disappeared from the collapse: nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to the governments of those countries.

The senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, pointed out on his Twitter account that almost a third of the missing persons are foreigners and that he works with the consulates of different Latin American countries to help relatives obtain US visas so that they can travel.

The family assistant was identified as Lady Luna. In Asunción, her cousin Lourdes Luna said that she is 23 years old, has a degree in nursing and that she had been working with the Pettengill-López Moreira family for two years.

Juana Villalba, Lady’s mother, said her daughter left for Miami on Monday.

“Before leaving home he asked me for my blessing,” he said. “As a mother I have no consolation because they do not give me information about my daughter.”