'We Were So Lucky': Family Narrowly Survived Surfside Condo Collapse A total of 20 agencies are offering assistance to families affected by the collapse. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. A jagged five-foot chunk of flooring barely left enough room to escape. With 4 confirmed dead, 159 unaccounted for, officials vow to keep Elected officials told the paper that first responders lacked adequate resources and the experience in dealing with such a massive and catastrophic incident. Residents of a partially-collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida, have spoken out about what they heard, felt, and saw during the disaster, as search and rescue efforts continue. (AP). She quickly grabbed her dog and tried to evacuate, along with other residents, down the only staircase that was available. MIAMI (CBSMiami) - For the fortunate who survived the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in late June, getting basic help early on was simple. Only three survived the initial collapse. But her mother, Angela Gonzalez, and her sister, Deven Gonzalez, did survive. We got to the stairwell and when we opened the door, that's when everything really hit, because half the wall to the stairwell was missing, it was kind ofopen airstairs, so now we're just racing down as fast as possible.". A Florida judge on Thursday approvedasettlement of more than $1 billionto families who lost loved ones in the collapse of the beachfront condominium building. Miami Condo Building Collapse: Updates, Demolition Video - Intelligencer Friends she's staying with outfitted her with new clothes and a computer. He said he awoke around 1:15 a.m. to a shaking building and swaying chandeliers. It was. I had just taken all of my mother's pictures - all the pictures of our family to that condo two days before that because I was going to sort them all out. "That number is way up from the original count, and so we're very, very grateful for the hard work of our firefighters on the scene," Levine Cava told ABC News' Cecelia Vega in an interview Friday on "GMA. I know it. Survivors recount horror of Surfside building collapse: 'We - ABC News Florida condo collapse Death toll rises to 11; authorities name There was nothing there, and people were screaming. First responders arrive at the partially . ", She made her way to a nearby stairwell and tried to exit on the pool deck, but the door was jammed. The second body was pulled out a short while later. A partially collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. A woman who survived the collapse of a condo building in Florida has shared how she escaped. Sara and Eyal Nir have six kids and two of them, Gabe and Chani, moved into the condominium building with them. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead, but over 150 are still missing as of Monday afternoon. And please understand that I don't care - everything I lost in that condo, including my parents' wedding rings and my father's 18-karat gold watch from Cuba that was engraved and all that - I don't care. The family had their choice of two units, Gabe said. He and his wife got the kids from their beds and ran for their lives. The Champlain Towers South Condo Association was preparing to start a new construction project to make updates and the condominium had been through extensive inspections, according to Kenneth Direktor, a lawyer for the association. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The people that lived there were good, good people that didn't deserve this. Associated Press. Copyright 2021 NPR. Fires have flared up throughout the day, adding to the danger for the search and rescue teams, according to the official. Albert Aguero and his family had asimilarclose call. The rumble was followed by a loud crash and debris as part of a condo complex collapsed in Surfside . Condo association "kept kicking the can down the road," according to lawyer for unit owner. As Sara and Chani ran from the building, Gabe called 911. Rescue crews . Survivors recounted hearing signs of the collapse and attempting to escape the building early Thursday morning. Market data provided by Factset. Alfredo used to joke to his wife she'd have to bury him there. At least four people have been confirmed dead and 159 others remain unaccounted for. But, at this point, nothing to indicate that.". 1401 79th Street Causeway I was standing right here, De Moura said just outside of her home. But her mother, Angela Gonzalez, and her sister, Deven Gonzalez, did survive. Im like, All right, Im in the middle of it. They chose to live in Champlain Towers South. I go as near as I can. A woman who survived the collapse of a condo building in Florida said she escaped by climbing through the rubble in the dark with her dog. Anyone with family members from the condominium who are either safe or still missing is urged to call 305-614-1819 to account for them. It just makes us really grateful, but also sad. 2023 www.tallahassee.com. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. While the family is still dealing with the trauma of that night, Gabe said he thinks fate kept them alive. I was sleeping, and I heard the loudest thunderclap Ive heard in my life times 100, he said. And they opened it, and I just ran. They were the nicest couple. When you start hitting seven days, that really goes down." Survival depends on several factors - mainly access to air and water, ability to regulate body temperature, pre-existing health conditions, injuries sustained during the collapse, and mental will to live. The announcement came after search and rescue operations were paused for hours because of growing signs the structure was dangerously unstable. But on Thursday, exactly two weeks after the 12-story . SURFSIDE As many as nine of the 98 victims who died in the worst building collapse in modern U.S. history might have survived the initial cave-in, a USA Today investigation suggests . Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Did you encounter any technical issues? Gabe said his family knew many people in that community. It's still unclear what caused the condominium, which has withstood decades of hurricanes, to partially collapse. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Rescuers are in a desperate bid to try and find survivors in Surfside, Fla., amid the wreckage of the Champlain Towers condo building. About three dozen people were able to escape from the portion of the building that remained standing. She still hears the screams from that night. It's like a motor it just goes fast, fast, fast," he said, adding that they don't even know where to start. Your cat's name was Mia (ph), right? Searchers for a second day combed through the massive pile of debris following the collapse of a Florida condo building, as officials vowed to keep looking for anyone who may still . Neither he nor the company, in its press release, made any mention of the 98 people who perished. Officials confirmed they had recovered remains for each person who had been considered missing after the June 24 collapse. "It's just sad. "People didn't want to answer they didn't know what was going on outside.". All rights reserved, How to Help Victims of the Surfside Building Collapse, Deeply Emotional': Families of the Missing Visit Site of Florida Condo Collapse, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Flight Attendant Hit the Ceiling': 7 Hospitalized After Severe Turbulence Diverts Flight to Virginia, Check Your Change! This is a 1 in 10,000 year earthquake that hits Florida.. Its the only way they can heal.. The Lopez family has lived for two decades on the street side of the condo that's still partially intact. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I don't think I've really processed what happened.". They have been hampered by torrential rain and fires and have had to move with excruciating care. "Nothing's ruled out. Surfside Resident Who Survived Condominium Collapse Wants Answers At 11:05 a.m., about 10hours after the condo caved-in, the logs noted that rescuers lost voice contactwith a female victim and requested backup and canines to scour the basement. I also want you to know that that couple - that they keep saying in the news that 1001 - it's a man and his wife - that the niece was visiting them - they were the nicest people, the nicest people, were always - I'm by myself. And she got the last condo in a 16-unit building that was opened up rent-free to Surfside survivors for the month of July. Paolo Longobardi, who lives in the Champlain Towers South with his wife and two children, said he also awoke to loud noises and saw part of the building collapse. With Eyal traveling for work often, Gabe told CBS News he decided to live with his mom and teen sister to help them out. Firefighters officially ended their search for bodies in the debris of the collapsed Surfside condo building on Friday A Miami-Dade county official told ABC News that there's real concern about the structural integrity of the remaining building, particularly from dangling wires and portions of concrete. Ninety-six bodies were recovered from the Champlain Towers South collapse site in Surfside, Florida, while one other victim who died at a hospital brings the official death toll to 97. Mia, another cat, had been lying at the feet of her owner on . (Liyah Deveaux) By KELLI KENNEDY. Instead she's been sleeping in a chair, constantly thinking of the victims who couldn't escape. Have a news tip? Sara and Eyal Nir have six kids and two of them, Gabe and Chani, moved into the condominium building with them. CNNs Eric Levenson contributed to this report. Where victims and survivors lived in Champlain Towers South condo Reach him at JDelgado@gannett.com. Sometimes, if were not sure if its blunt force trauma, the doctor will choose to put the general overarching event, Darren Caprara, director of operations at the medical examiners office, told USA Today about using building collapse as the cause of death. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Office has released initial reports for 67 of the victims, listing the cause of death as either blunt force injuries or building collapse.Only one autopsy was performed, according to the report. Heavy machinery is used to remove a support column as search and rescue personnel work atop the rubble at the Champlain Towers South condo building on Friday. I mean, this doesn't just happen. A survivor of the Florida condo collapse said she had to climb through Sara was at an event, Chani was babysitting and Gabe, a night owl, had gone to the gym. Survivors of Surfside condo collapse speak out 03:45 Miami, FL 33141 Those are our neighbors. Surfside building collapse victims Sophia Lpez Moreira and her husband Luis Pettengill died along with their three children and nanny, Leidy Vanessa Luna Villalba. A massive search-and-rescue effort is underway following the partial collapse of a 12-story condominium building in Surfside, Miami, early June 24, 2021. Most residents were asleep. Initially, 150 people were thought to be missing. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Susana Alvarez, who lived on the 10th floor of the building that collapsed in Surfside, Florida. And I hear car alarms going off, I see lights flashing everywhere. It was like 'Titanic,'" she said. I won't leave. Survivor of Surfside condo collapse remembers when 'the floor just But it wasn't even a minute that went by when it was - my bed started to shake like if I was on a - like I was on a ride. She said she believed she is only one of two people from her floor who survived. Both had been flagged in a 2018 engineering report noting the need for extensive and costly repairs to fix systemic issues with the Champlain Towers South. . Authorities have opened a family assistance center at the Surfside recreational center for individuals unable to locate loved ones who live in the Champlain Towers South. Legal Statement. Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela have all reported nationals who have been affected by the building collapse in Surfside, with more than a dozen still missing. After a failed attempt duringthe 2022 legislative session, lawmakers in May returned to Tallahasseeandpassed legislation designed to prevent a similar disaster. And a warning, this is a harrowing conversation but an important one. I can only imagine how many people were in their apartments either sleeping or watching TV or just whatever, just living their lives. I left my cat behind. The disaster is now officially one of the deadliest structural building failures in American history. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much I run to the hallway, cloud of dust slams into me. Unbeknownst to them the building was about to break away., Little fingers and screaming led a dog walker to a boy trapped in the collapsed Florida condo rubble.
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