A 13-second video from inside the Miami condo collapse shows debris falling, the footage shaking and the the video cutting out. The 25-year-old caught up with his mom and sister and they continued to run from the scene. I just ran out. I don't know why I grabbed my phone. And their daughter was staying there. But subsidence, or the gradual sinking of land, likely would not on its own cause a building to collapse, according to Wdowinski, whose expertise is in space geodesy, natural hazards and sea level rise. But the staircase directly outside their unit was collapsing, he said, so they had to find another one. I was going to retire there. Of the 136 condominium units, approximately 55 were destroyed along the northeast corridor, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Raide Jadallah. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And have you been back to the building? Most residents were asleep. Im in a dream in California. "Of course, it's not ruled out," she added. 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 . (AP), LIVE UPDATES: SURFSIDE CONDO BUILDING COLLAPSE. ALVAREZ: Not to that extent. She said she believed she is only one of two people from her floor who survived. We've received your submission. Your email address will not be published. "It was pitch black. He thought the cause of the collapse was a gas explosion and wanted to get a safe distance away. 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.. But her mother, Angela Gonzalez, and her sister, Deven Gonzalez, did survive. And again, I'm staying in the area. That was a very difficult night, Scheinhaus said. Steve Rosenthal said he was woken up when he heard a loud noise and felt his unit shaking. Market data provided by Factset. "We were screaming 'Help! The 101-pageproposal included provisions helping ensure corporations stay up to speed on maintenance and inspections. Rosenthal is not the only survivor who has shared their story. "I'm having a hard time [getting] to sleep. The family had just moved in six months ago. I dont even want to think about it, shesaid. Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Town leaders fuming at obstacles to investigation, aim to sue county, Florida judge approves $83 million settlement for property loss in Surfside condo collapse, DeSantis signs condo reform bill a response to Surfside building collapse into law, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. They always wanted me to go out, ride bikes with them. As of Thursday . She kept telling me what to do. Ryan Logan, the American Red Cross' regional disaster officer for south Florida, said the organization has been helping about 18 families, and some of them have been looking for ways they can help other victims. The Miami-Dade Police Department is leading an investigation into the incident. Eyal was out of town that fateful night. Please enter valid email address to continue. June 24: At around 1:20 a.m., while many residents were sleeping, the condo tower shakes and then partially collapses, destroying about 55 apartment units. We reached out to a Surfside spokesperson for a response but did not hear back. Jadallah told reporters that at least 11 people were medically assessed and treated on site, four of whom were then transported to local hospitals. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The collapsed condo was about to begin . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 Jason Delgado is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network-Florida. Its not like her, and its not like me, and when I woke up at 5:30, I understood why.. In the first 48 hours, we obviously did not have all the resources, Burkett, the mayor, told USA Today. The remains belonged to Estelle Hedaya, 54, according to a statement from the Miami-Dade Police. I only care about the cat. Was any of that shared with the rest of residents? After he saw the damage on TV, De Moura said he had to drive his car to the condo building to see it for himself. "Just don't know why we're here and the rest of the people aren't," Janette Aguero told ABC News. "I feel like I'm mourning every minute for someone in the building," she said. Discovery Company. But I am homeless right now. "I walked out with my pajamas and my phone.". Gabe said his family knew many people in that community. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It was not a clap of thunder and it wasn't a storm; it was something else," Albert Aguero told ABC News' T.J. Holmes in an interview Friday on "Good Morning America.". I go as near as I can. 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 . And I ran, and I ran. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in Miami-Dade County "to provide assistance for the families impacted by the Surfside tragedy," according to the order issued Thursday evening. Search and Rescue personnel pull a body out of the rubble after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. I won't leave. I went with the people. At least two members of the family were seriously injured in the collapse one is still missing. Still, officials had resisted abandoning the search-and-rescue effort. He said his mom liked the unit on the ground floor better and chose that one a decision that, six months later, played a role in their survival. Jeff Pias, 60, was staying with his . First responders have not heard any voices coming from the pile but have continuously picked up sounds, according to Jadallah. 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. Paolo Longobardi speaks about escaping the collapsed building in Surfside, Fla. on "Good Morning America," June 25, 2021. You feel sorry for them, and I wish we could've done more for them.". This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. 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. I thought a bomb - I mean, that was my first - when I saw that building missing, I mean, I was like, I have to get out of here. Your cat's name was Mia (ph), right? Crews searched for hours but were unable to find her, the report said. Updated on: July 14, 2021 / 9:25 PM I (opened) the doors and a wall of dust hit me," she said in the filing. I was standing right here, De Moura said just outside of her home. WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Damage forces evacuation of Miami Beach apartment building, Ordered to leave their homes, Crestview Towers residents speak out on evacuation, Remembering the victims of the Surfside condo collapse, How you can help those impacted by the condo collapse in Surfside, Coral Gables resident still refuses to sell decades-old home surrounded by massive development, Broward County pastor faces several fraud, grand theft charges after defrauding church, Gunman dead after hours-long SWAT standoff at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, Police: Man fatally shot 3-year-old son, himself inside Coconut Grove condo, Police arrest student who made false bomb threat at Dillard High School; classes resume. 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. Susana Alvarez fled her home on the 10th floor of Champlain Towers South, escaping with her life and almost nothing else. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It doesn't sound silly. A few seconds later, his bed and room began to shake and Rosenthal jumped out of bed to see what was happening. Its so difficult to put into words because of the people that are there, but Im grateful to be alive, he said. 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. 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. ABC News' Eliana Larramendia Boyd, Kendall Coughlin, Alexandra Faul, Christopher Godburn, Joshua Hoyos, Aaron Katersky, Rachel Katz, Katie Kindelan,. Legal Statement. A high-rise condo building in Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed on June 24, leaving at least 95 people dead, with as many as 14 potentially still missing Tuesday afternoon. Reach him at JDelgado@gannett.com. The NIST received $22 million in supplemental funding from Congress to complete its investigation. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. 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.". Instead she's been sleeping in a chair, constantly thinking of the victims who couldn't escape. All rights reserved. Her apartment was on the 10th floor and she knew many people in the building she had lived in for years. appreciated. All I saw was cement, rubble, wood, people yelling Help me,' Rosenthal said. And the town of Surfside said to us that the building was not in bad shape, that the building was not in bad shape. Come get us!'" Their condo in Surfside had collapsed, and they had just narrowly survived. 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. Sara picked up Gabe on her way home and they all arrived back at the building just before 1 a.m., he said. Alfredo Lopez and his wife describe how they escaped the crumbling Champlain Towers South on June 24, 2021. "Pancake collapses tend to 'stack' floors on themselves, bringing all their weight down nearly square on the . What we know about the building collapse so far. People stand at the Surfside Community Center where authorities are taking residents and relatives from a partially collapsed building in Surfside near Miami Beach, Fla., June 24, 2021. 00:49. She did - to yoga with me. When I opened the door to my apartment, it leads to a long hallway, and all I saw was debris, Osin-Cohen told"Today. The family had their choice of two units, Gabe said. Schechter, whose home is in a part of the building that is still standing, said she was asleep when she began hearing noises that were followed by shaking and rumbling. It's not like her, and it's not like me, and when I woke up at 5:30, I understood why." Victims also appear likely to get some money from the liability insurer for Champlain Towers Souths condominium association, which has at least four lawsuits pending related to the collapse. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Did anyone survive the collapse Surfside? "People didn't want to answer they didn't know what was going on outside.". Legal Statement. An attached copy of the policy showed limits between $1 million and $2 million. And we sat there with the town of Surfside. ALVAREZ: I want answers. I mean, this doesn't just happen. Only three survived the initial collapse. "I remember screaming to my mom and my sister, 'Run, run, just run for your life,'" Gabe said, adding that he heard screaming from others and it felt like a nightmare. A mother MIAMI BEACH The first victim was found in the heap of wreckage just hours after the sudden collapse of a 13-story oceanside condo building. As of Wednesday, officials said 75 people were confirmed dead and 90 of the victims have been identified. Many lost cars, too, buried in the buildings underground parking garage. All my friends were giving me luggage and clothes and things. At least four people have been confirmed dead and 159 others remain unaccounted for. And in the pool area, you just see everything just sunk down below, underneath. "We are working with the Consulates of various countries in the Western Hemisphere to help secure travel visas for family members who need to travel to the U.S.," Rubio wrote in a post on his official Twitter account on Thursday evening. "Its nothing short of amazing.". The couple said their 22-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter were "mere feet away" from the part of the building that collapsed. Recordings of 911 calls released from the scene of the Florida condominium building collapse reveal the chaos and . Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. No one ever, ever, ever told us that this - that that building was in such bad shape - no one, no one. The final missing person in the condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida has been recovered and identified, according to the Miami-Dade County mayor. He cannot help but wish, though, that a . According to The Telegraph, another Haitian man survived underneath a pile of rubble for over three weeks by drinking sewage water . 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. Susana Alvarez fled her home on the 10th floor of Champlain Towers South, escaping with her life and almost nothing else. It's not known if those factors played a role in the collapse. Thats what saved me. The group came up against rubble blocking their path. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. At a news conference Monday, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced that the final missing persons family had been notified following the identification of the individuals remains, formally ending the search. "I was prepared for the whole building to come down," one survivor said. The people that lived there were good, good people that didn't deserve this. 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. This is a 1 in 10,000 year earthquake that hits Florida.. 1401 79th Street Causeway The uncle of a 15-year-old who survived the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida, two weeks ago called the man who found the teenager in the rubble to thank him. "As soon as she goes down to the front, I hear this loud rumble. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Mysterious Cases of Men Found Dead After Leaving NYC Gay Bars Ruled Homicides: ME. GARCIA-NAVARRO: As you just heard there, Ms. Alvarez said that the residents of Champlain Towers were reassured by a representative from the town of Surfside that the building was safe. Officials confirmed they had recovered remains for each person who had been considered missing after the June 24 collapse. The family reached the third floor, where they helped a young woman and an elderly residentget to the ground floor. WOMAN TRAPPED IN CONDO RUBBLE PLEADED WITH RESCUERS TO SAVE HER. He was obviously sleeping, Balboa said two weeks ago. They have been hampered by torrential rain and fires and have had to move with excruciating care. Miami, FL 33141 So far, one person is confirmed dead, 11 are injured and 99 people . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. For five long . And the fire escape door wouldn't open, but I saw people on the other side, and I banged. Firefighters on Friday declared the end of their search for bodies at the site of a collapsed Florida condo building, concluding a month of painstaking work removing . An aerial view showing a partially collapsed building in Surfside near Miami Beach, Fla., June 24, 2021. Albert Aguero (top left), his wife Janette Aguero (bottom right), his son Justin Willis (top right) and his daughter Athena Aguero (bottom left) speak to ABC News for an interview on "Good Morning America" in Surfside, Fla. on June 25, 2021. Michael Capponi, the president of a Miami-area nonprofit that for the past decade has helped victims of disasters from hurricanes to wildfires in the U.S. and abroad, said he has personally dealt with 50 people who lost homes in the building. The couple fled down the emergencystairwell, but couldn't open the lobby door. "The chandeliers and the pendant lights [were] just swaying completely, and that was not normal. "They are going to basically have to start all over again," Capponi said. Teams of firefighters have been cutting through the layers of debris with various machinery and using sonar devices as well as specially trained dogs as part of the search efforts, a process that Jadallah said is "slow and methodical." Elected officials told the paper that first responders lacked adequate resources and the experience in dealing with such a massive and catastrophic incident. 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Search and rescue personnel work onsite after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. We talked until 1 in the morning, De Moura said. Several of their pets also went missing. Which of the following structure contains osteocytes? An investigation by USA Today found that at least nine of the 98 people killed in the tragedy initially survived the June 24 collapse, including one woman who was possibly still alive under the rubble 10 hours later. GARCIA-NAVARRO: You were in the building when it collapsed. "It's very hard for us to even think about these people that are not there with us anymore," he said. I see cars going inwards, underneath the building underneath the building is the car garage. Hes based in Tallahassee. They were both identified by the Miami-Dade Police Department on June 26. But the kindness of people has been phenomenal. One provision stipulates that condos taller than three stories must be inspected every ten years. "We were just tremendously lucky.". He and his wife got the kids from their beds and ran for their lives. But on Thursday, exactly two weeks after the 12-story . Initially, 150 people were thought to be missing. I thought, oh, tomorrow on the news, we're going to hear about, you know, tremors in Florida. 2. They're working around the clock and they're using every possible tool," she added. It was. ALVAREZ: Yes, I go every day. 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! Always.