Firefighters officially ended their search for bodies in the debris of the collapsed Surfside condo building on Friday I dont even want to think about it, shesaid. That's when the family started hearing loud noises. The collapsed condo was about to begin . I don't know because I grabbed nothing else. According to The Telegraph, another Haitian man survived underneath a pile of rubble for over three weeks by drinking sewage water . Susana Alvarez fled her home on the 10th floor of Champlain Towers South, escaping with her life and almost nothing else. In the first 48 hours, we obviously did not have all the resources, Burkett, the mayor, told USA Today. How many people survived the Surfside condo collapse? When he opened the . First published on July 14, 2021 / 2:21 PM. Once in her apartment, they made their way to the balcony and flagged down firefighters who rescued them. A Florida judge on Thursday approvedasettlement of more than $1 billionto families who lost loved ones in the collapse of the beachfront condominium building. 'Like it had been hit by a missile': Residents who survived the collapse describe being inside. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. It's just so emotional. One unit over, and I am gone, Rosenthal added. Recordings of 911 calls released from the scene of the Florida condominium building collapse reveal the chaos and . What did you see? Everything I owned was in that apartment, but I don't care. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It doesn't sound silly. All Rights Reserved. Support . Sharon Schechter, 60, described her escape to WPLG, saying she believes she was only one of two people who survived from her floor when the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South near Miami partially collapsed early Thursday morning. The 12-story residential complex in the small, beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach, partially collapsed before 1:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. And a warning, this is a harrowing conversation but an important one. "She lived there for a long time," said Adam Schwartzbaum, her attorney, "and she was planning to live there for the rest of her life. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 Still, officials had resisted abandoning the search-and-rescue effort. 2023 www.tallahassee.com. But on Thursday, exactly two weeks after the 12-story . But the staircase directly outside their unit was collapsing, he said, so they had to find another one. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Since the collapse, Balboa said he has replayed that moment in his mind many times, wondering what he could have done differently to save more people, he told CNN. A total of 20 agencies are offering assistance to families affected by the collapse. When he told me My building collapsed, I believed something wrong happened during the building or something broke, but not the whole building on the floor.. This story has been shared 155,909 times. The Miami-Dade Police Department is leading an investigation into the incident. I won't leave. Nine of the 98 Surfside victims may have SURVIVED the initial condo collapse: Fire rescue logs show woman was alive in rubble for TEN HOURS. All I saw was cement, rubble, wood, people yelling Help me,' Rosenthal said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Coco, a black and white tuxedo cat, was left behind after her 89-year-old owner was pulled to safety from her fourth floor apartment. MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two residents of Champlain Towers South are sharing their stories of survival, with one resident describing what he felt inside the building, and one who said his girlfriend wanting to spend more time with him is what saved his life. She did - to yoga with me. Those are our neighbors. That was a very difficult night, Scheinhaus said. Im like, All right, Im in the middle of it. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Its not like her, and its not like me, and when I woke up at 5:30, I understood why.. But, I mean, I can't get into the building. Photos: Florida beachfront condo collapses, Surfside mourns victims as death toll nears 100, One year later, Surfside survivors recall collapse and healing journey, Memorial held for victims of the Surfside tragedy on anniversary of the condo collapse, Judge approves $1 billion settlement in deadly Florida condo collapse, "Voice in the rubble" victim of Surfside condo collapse is identified, Lawsuit claims construction triggered deadly condo collapse, history of maintenance and structural concerns. "We were just tremendously lucky.". Copyright 2021 NPR. A 2020 study conducted by Shimon Wdowinski, a professor at Florida International University's Institute of Environment in Miami, found signs of land subsidence in from 1993 to 1999 in the area where the Champlain Towers South condominium is located. "Especially at nighttime. This was in a matter of seconds, out of nowhere. Over a month after a condominium complex near Miami abruptly collapsed overnight, local officials said Monday theyve identified the remains of a final missing person, sending the disasters overall death toll to 98. I really didn't think anything of it. . July 14, 2021 / 6:01 AM / CBS Miami. For five long . "It's just sad. Alfredo and Marian Lopez were sound asleep around 1:30 a.m. Thursday when they heard the first boom, like a crash of thunder from a Florida . The Miami Herald, in a multimedia investigative story,reported last December that the collapse beganwhen the ground-floor parking area and pool deck caved in, and found that design failures, shoddy construction, damage and neglect over the past 40 years lined up like dominoes to create the perfect conditions for a deadly chain reaction.. The New Jersey couple were vacationing with their two children in southern Florida, staying on the 11th floor of the oceanfront Champlain Towers South condominium in a unit owned by their parents. Hes based in Tallahassee. The judges initial approval came May 28, the day after attorneys for the families of victims reached an agreement to avoid a protracted court battle that could have taken years to resolve. But her mother, Angela Gonzalez, and her sister, Deven Gonzalez, did survive. or redistributed. Im in a dream in California. The second body was pulled out a short while later. So far, there is no evidence of foul play, according to Levine Cava. Legal Statement. The Miami-Dade Police Department is leading an investigation into the incident. / CBS News. And it's just overwhelming, really.". If the cause of death could have been multiple things, and we dont have enough evidence to say definitely what it was, we dont list possible causes.. 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. And again, I'm staying in the area. "When we measure subsidence or when we see movement of the buildings, it's worth checking why it happens," Wdowinski, who analyzed space-based radar data, said in a statement Thursday. "For some reason, we all were doing things later than usual. At least 34 lawsuits have been filed by families of victims since the collapse, accusing building officials, the condo board and others of ignoring structural defects. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. Search and Rescue personnel work at a partial collapse building . Though most who managed to flee to safety lived in parts of the building that remain standing, they have little hope of returning to reclaim clothing, computers, jewelry and sentimental possessions they left behind. Albert Aguero and his family had asimilarclose call. I think that it was a progressive evolution, and every hour that went by, we continued to add resources.. Please enter valid email address to continue. I was standing right here, De Moura said just outside of her home. No other survivors were found even after an international coalition of rescue workers labored for two weeks, working 24 hours a day, to dig through a 40-foot high pile of rubble. And it was just a lot - what looked like smoke, which must've been dust. Search efforts . A woman who survived the collapse of a condo building in Florida has shared how she escaped. Have a news tip? The family's condo was on the ninth floor of the 12-story Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida. An aerial view showing a partially collapsed building in Surfside near Miami Beach, Fla., June 24, 2021. The cause of the collapse is still being investigated, but evidence soon emerged of a history of maintenance and structural concerns at the building, which was just beginning a multimillion-dollar repair project. He cannot help but wish, though, that a . We're here! "Nothing like this has ever been seen, at least not in the 40 years I've been doing this," Direktor told ABC News. CNNs Eric Levenson contributed to this report. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Son shares how family survived condo collapse, Son shares how family survived Surfside condo building collapse. I only care about the cat. And the fire escape door wouldn't open, but I saw people on the other side, and I banged. Profiles of the 98 victims of the Surfside collapse in Florida | Miami Herald. There was light, but it was the eeriness of it. And I hear car alarms going off, I see lights flashing everywhere. Reach him at JDelgado@gannett.com. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. "Panic starts to set in, like we need to really run, because I don't know if the rest of it is coming down. Their condo in Surfside had collapsed, and they had just narrowly survived. All rights reserved. The roof was also undergoing work and the entire building had been under scrutiny due to potential construction projects nearby, officials said. ALVAREZ: I'll be all right. They were the nicest couple. He ran to his apartment to drop off his dog, and when he returned to the wreckage, he heard screaming under the rubble. It's still unclear what caused the condominium, which has withstood decades of hurricanes, to partially collapse. ALVAREZ: It makes me think that the engineer did not properly do his work. With Eyal traveling for work often, Gabe told CBS News he decided to live with his mom and teen sister to help them out. (CNN) After several weeks of searching and waiting for news on victims from the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, A class-action complaint updated on Nov. 10 alleges that the towers were badly damaged and destabilized because of, A total of 98 people died when the building, Over a month after a condominium complex near Miami abruptly collapsed overnight, local officials said Monday theyve identified the remains of a final missing person, sending the disasters overall death toll to. Then their bedroom began to shake. I mean, I know that sounds silly, but that's all I want, my cat back. Miami, FL 33141 appreciated. I don't know why I grabbed my phone. Families deserve to know what really happened to their loved ones. The family reached the third floor, where they helped a young woman and an elderly residentget to the ground floor. "Nothing's ruled out. 2. A mother Although he and his family are safe, Longobardi said they are all "shocked. After a failed attempt duringthe 2022 legislative session, lawmakers in May returned to Tallahasseeandpassed legislation designed to prevent a similar disaster. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Mysterious Cases of Men Found Dead After Leaving NYC Gay Bars Ruled Homicides: ME. That complete side of the building was not there, Mariantold the Miami Herald. And the stairs were all full of rubble. ALVAREZ: They are. ", Longobardi, who is a civil engineer, said they found a staircase that was completely intact and he quickly checked for cracks or other signs of damage before they used it to escape. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So what does that make you think? The report from the firm of Morabito Consultants said the ground-floor pool deck was resting on a concrete slab that had major structural damage and needed to be extensively repaired, and uncovered abundant cracking and spalling of concrete columns, beams and walls in the parking garage. I wish I had had different shoes on, he said, noting he was wearing flip flops at the time. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Deven Gonzalez, left, and her volleyball teammate Liyah Deveaux. My balcony doors opened. When they opened their door, they sawsky and beach where their neighbors doors had once stood. Surfside is a few miles north of Miami Beach. "It's very hard for us to even think about these people that are not there with us anymore," he said. And my mom decided to stay later at her event, my sister decided to come back home late," he said. Rosenthal is not the only survivor who has shared their story. But I'll - I know I can get myself back up on my feet. By Wilson Wong. The family is now living in a hotel and dealing with the trauma of that night. Miami condo owners warned of major structural damage in 2018. This is one of the most complex building failure investigations ever undertaken, said Judith Mitrani-Reiser, who co-leads the investigation. And it felt like the longest thunder I had ever heard in my life. The family had their choice of two units, Gabe said. Her apartment was on the 10th floor and she knew many people in the building she had lived in for years. One provision stipulates that condos taller than three stories must be inspected every ten years. I could hear people crying and screaming for help, Lopez told the Herald. An attorney for James River Insurance Company wrote to the judge in one case this week that it plans to "voluntarily tender its entire limit" from the associations policy toward resolving claims. You feel sorry for them, and I wish we could've done more for them.". He was obviously sleeping, Balboa said two weeks ago. A massive search and rescue operation has been underway since early Thursday, as crews carefully comb through the pancaked wreckage and remaining structure in hopes of finding survivors. "Its nothing short of amazing.". 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. And that, to me, is the worst thing, and that's all I want back. Capponi's organization, Global Empowerment Mission, has distributed roughly $75,000 in gift cards among surfside survivors, and he's also working with hotel and condo owners to find places they can live for the next two months. He thought the ordeal could not be real, but he said he knew it was real when dust fell on his face and saw more of it out of his window. Nir, a recent college graduate, was living there while he looked for a job and considered medical school. The apartments were gone.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Schechter said as soon as she got out, all she could think about were her neighbors that might have still been inside. I was only thinking of getting out. She convinced him to have a beer at the dining room table. The bodies of 83-year-old Antonio Lozano and his wife, 79-year-old Gladys Lozano, were recovered from the wreckage by first responders on June 24 and June 25, respectively. Did anyone survive the collapse Surfside? At least 10 people have been confirmed dead, but over 150 are still missing as of Monday afternoon. The rumble was followed by a loud crash and debris as part of a condo complex collapsed in Surfside . Miami condo owners warned of major structural damage in 2018. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The building's shocking anddevastating collapselast month killed at least 97 people inside but the Nirs managed to get out alive. "It could have been a very different thing," Janette Aguero said, her voice wavering with emotion. The disaster that killed at least 18 people, with more than 140 still missing, also rendered dozens of people homeless. The announcement came after search and rescue operations were paused for hours because of growing signs the structure was dangerously unstable. Friends she's staying with outfitted her with new clothes and a computer. A total of 98 people died when the building partially collapsed on June 24, 2021. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Susana Alvarez, thank you very much for talking with us. , even as police and forensic specialists continue working to identify human remains. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Live Updates: Miami-Area Condo Collapse Rescue crews race to find scores of people still missing in the wreckage Binx The Cat, A Survivor Of The Florida Condo Collapse, Was Reunited With His Family 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Just don't know why we're here and the rest of the people aren't," Janette Aguero told ABC News. That was a very difficult night, Scheinhaus said. 1:33. The couple fled down the emergencystairwell, but couldn't open the lobby door. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. "I'm having a hard time [getting] to sleep. It's unclear exactly how many residents have been displaced, but those with insurance policies should recoup at least a portion of their losses. It wasn't until they opened the door to the hallway that they realized what had actually happened. Nobody had been found alive since immediately after the Florida building crumbled almost two weeks ago, killing at least 54. Surfside building collapse victims Sophia Lpez Moreira and her husband Luis Pettengill died along with their three children and nanny, Leidy Vanessa Luna Villalba. Without hesitation, I did exactly what she told me. I mean, the bed was shaking. Another requires condo owners to maintain a reserve fund to address needed repairs. Market data provided by Factset. When part of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed early Thursday, it left a pile of rubble where the beachside residences once stood. I see cars going inwards, underneath the building underneath the building is the car garage. But I am homeless right now. "That was a very difficult night," Scheinhaus said. And I ran, and I ran. Survivors recount harrowing escape from collapsed condo. That was my home. Accuracy and availability may vary. Balboa flagged a police officer and other rescuers, who helped pull the teenager out to safety. Scene at family reunification center, where 'it's the waiting that's getting to me' Susana Alvarez is 62. I have a good job, and I'm not destitute. Florida Building Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 18, With 145 Missing : Live Updates: Miami-Area Condo Collapse It has now been nearly a week since rescue crews last pulled anyone alive from the . GARCIA-NAVARRO: And for more information or to report the status of Champlain Tower residents who are unaccounted for, please call 305-614-1819 or 305-993-1071. Rescue workers continued digging feverishly for a sixth day Tuesday, after stressing Monday that they could still find survivors in the rubble of a collapsed Surfside condo building. Raysa Rodriguez recounts a harrowing escape from her unit at the collapsed Surfside condominium, and . What are you thinking at this moment? It's still unclear what caused the condominium, which has withstood decades of hurricanes, to partially collapse. It's not known if those factors played a role in the collapse. (Sara Nir) RIGHT: A bedroom in the Nir's apartment, Unit 111, before the collapse . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. What we know about the building collapse so far. 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 . "We're just lost. "The building swayed like a sheet of paper. Your email address will not be published. It was like a sandstorm. Rosenthal said it is a miracle that he managed to escape because many of his neighbors' apartments were on the L-shaped tower that collapsed. ALVAREZ: Yes, I go every day. 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. Jason Delgado is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network-Florida. I can't even explain it. It was. 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. "I looked to the left and the apartment to our left was half sheared off. At approximately 1:20 a.m. on June 24, 2021, Champlain Towers South, a 12-story, 136-unit condo building at 8777 Collins Ave., Surfside . But, The June 24 collapse killed 97 people 96 bodies were pulled from the debris and one died at a hospital after being removed and. I lived there by myself. As of Thursday . I mean, this doesn't just happen. "There is a chance that someone or some people can still survive this.