Surfside Condo Collapse: Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts

The search and rescue mission in Surfside remains a top priority, with hope still alive for the 150 missing.

### Urgent Search and Rescue Efforts Continue After Florida Condo Collapse
* 🚨 The priority remains on **search and rescue** as officials work tirelessly to **locate survivors** from the tragic building collapse in Surfside, Florida.
* 🏢 Reports indicate that the sister buildings, the north and east towers, are **not in imminent danger of collapse**, and no mandatory evacuations have been ordered, although some residents have chosen to leave.
* 💔 As of now, the death toll has risen to **11**, with three victims identified overnight, while over **300 rescue crews** face **treacherous conditions** in their efforts to find those still missing.
* 📸 Rescuers are hopeful that **pockets of air created by the pancaked structure** may harbor trapped survivors, with some voids identified but unfortunately yielding **no occupants so far**.
* 📜 A letter from the condo board's president highlighted significant repairs needed, indicating **observable damage had worsened** since a 2018 report, raising questions about the building's **maintenance**.
* 🔍 Engineers are analyzing video footage of the collapse, with indications that the failure may have originated from the building's **lower support structures**.
* 🕯 A candlelight vigil was held for the victims, with families still **desperate for news**, as officials continue to focus on the ongoing rescue mission, emphasizing that **hope remains alive**.
* 🛠 The investigation is ongoing, with evidence from the rubble being collected for further inspection to determine the **cause of this devastating incident**.

and we have a lot of news we want to get to this morning, starting with the latest on that deadly building collapse in Florida overnight. Hundreds of people gathering for this candlelight vigil, another emotional night there. And here's what we know right now: 11 people are confirmed dead, 150 people still unaccounted for. And this morning, we're learning more about the possible warning signs before that collapse. ABC's Victor Oquendo has been on the scene from the start of this story and joins us now from Surfside, Florida, with the latest. Good morning, Victor. Good morning, Michael. We are now into day six of the urgent search and rescue operation here. There are so many questions about how this could have happened, families still desperate for word on their loved ones, as we continue hearing these incredible stories of survival. This morning, officials holding on to hope, insisting that the search for the 150 people missing in the Surfside condo collapse is still a rescue mission, not a recovery. Our top priority continues to be search and rescue and saving any lives that we can. This as

the death toll climbed to 11. Three more victims identified overnight. Hundreds attending a vigil for the dead and missing on a nearby beach. Now more than 300 rescue crews racing against the clock to try to find those still missing, battling treacherous conditions. One worker falling 25 feet down the rubble. It's not an issue of we could just attach a couple of cords to a concrete boulder and lift it and call it a day. Crews hopeful that as the building pancaked down, pockets of air or voids could have formed in the rubble, potentially trapping survivors, keeping them alive. There's certain areas that we have not gotten to, but we've been able to place cameras that seem to have large enough spaces, voids, that occupants may still be in there. Rescuers finding some of those voids, but unfortunately, nobody inside so far. Michael Noriega's grandmother has not been found, but two of her treasured family photos were just feet from the site, and that gives

him hope. We want to stand in the gap in the middle for so many people that were directly or indirectly affected by this to give them hope that they're not alone. This as stories of survival come to light from that horrific night. What unit were you in? 705. If I'm in 704, I'm dead. Steve Rosenthal was asleep in his apartment when the building started collapsing. He remembers his neighbor's cries for help. People are yelling, Help me, help me, get me out. He's filed a lawsuit against the condo association. 88-year-old Esther Gorfinkel, also lucky to be alive, escaping from her fifth-floor apartment, rescued by a group of neighbors. They picked me up, carrying me on my and his back outside, and I saw the sky. I know I will be out. The investigation now trying to determine what could have caused this horrifying collapse. The Miami Herald publishing photos from a contractor taken just 36 hours before the tragedy. The contractor telling the paper there was standing water all over the parking garage, noting cracked concrete.

and severely corroded rebar under the pool. And overnight, the Wall Street Journal published a letter it says was sent by the condo board's president in April, warning that significant repairs were needed and that the building had deteriorated since that 2018 report, saying indeed the observable damage, such as in the garage, has gotten significantly worse since the initial inspection. When you can visually see the concrete spalling, cracking, that means the rebar holding it together is rusting and deteriorating beneath the surface. Now engineers looking at this disturbing video frame by frame showing the collapse. When I look at the video, I feel it looks like it starts from the bottom of the building and works its way up or a failure concentrated at the support or the bottom of the building. A structural engineer who studied the 911 Pentagon attack has been hired by the city of Surfside to inspect the collapse, but this will be a very long process. That pile of rubble is also evidence, and it will be transported to a warehouse for inspection. But keep in mind the focus right now the

priority is on search and rescue. Michael, absolutely there. Victor, and Victor, what are you hearing about the sister buildings? Michael, that same engineer that I just mentioned has also taken a look at the sister buildings, the north and the east towers, and he told us that there was nothing that he saw that showed him that they were in imminent danger of collapse. No mandatory evacuations have been ordered, but some residents have chosen to leave on their own. Michael, all right, Victor Kendo, thank you so much. Well, hey there, GMA fans, Robin Roberts here. Thanks for checking out our YouTube channel. Lots of great stuff here, so go on, click the subscribe button right over here to get more awesome videos and content from GMA every day, anytime. We thank you for watching, and we'll see you in the morning on GMA.

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The building collapse in Surfside, Florida, has resulted in 11 confirmed deaths and 150 people still unaccounted for.

A candlelight vigil was held as families continue to search for their loved ones, with officials maintaining that the operation is still a rescue mission.

The urgent search and rescue effort is now into its sixth day, with officials holding on to hope for the missing individuals.

Hope and Survival After the Condo Collapse

A group is working to provide hope for those affected by the tragic condo collapse.

Survivors, like Steve Rosenthal and Esther Gorfinkel, share their harrowing experiences and have taken legal action against the condo association.

The investigation is underway, with photos from a contractor revealing potential issues like standing water and cracked concrete just before the collapse.

Deteriorating Conditions and Collapse of Condo Building

The condo board's president warned in April about significant repairs needed and worsening damage since a 2018 report.

Visible concrete spalling and cracking indicate rusting and deteriorating rebar.

A structural engineer has been hired to inspect the collapse, and the rubble will be transported for further investigation.

Search and Rescue Efforts Amid Building Collapse

Rescue crews are prioritizing search and rescue operations after a building collapse, with the death toll rising to 11.

The sister buildings have been assessed and are not in imminent danger of collapse, but some residents are choosing to evacuate.

Crews are battling treacherous conditions and using cameras to locate potential voids in the rubble, hoping to find survivors.