MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The death toll in the Champlain South Towers collapse has risen to 20.
On Friday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said two other victims were recovered overnight, adding that the daughter of a Miami city firefighter.
“Needless to say, each and every night since last Wednesday has been tremendously complicated for each and every one and especially for the families affected. But last night was different, more complicated for our first responders,” he said. Levine Cava. ” These men and women pay enormous human value each and every day. I ask you to keep them all in your mind and in your prayers.
Miami Fire Chief Joseph Zahralban issued the following statement.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families affected by this horrific tragedy. We can verify that a circle of family members of the City of Miami Fire Department lost their 7-year-old daughter in the collapse. He recovered last night through members of our urban search and rescue team, Task Force 2 Florida. »
“I’m a father of two, I have a seven-year-old son and the concept of wasting it this way is unimaginable. This tragedy has haunted many of us because many of us know someone who in construction or who affected through this tragedy. Now we know him someone from our circle of relatives, our circle of relatives of firefighters,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Those who have been recovered from the rubble and known are Stacie Dawn Fang, 54; Antonio Lozano, 83 and Gladys Lozano, 79; Manuel LaFont, 54; Léon Oliwkowicz, 80; Christina Beatriz Elvira, 74; Frank Kleiman, 55; Michael David Altman, 50; Hilda Noriega, 92; Andreas Giannisopoulos, 21; Anna Ortiz, 46, her son Luis Bermudez, 26; Anaely Rodriguez, 42; Marcus Guara, his children Lucia Guara, 10, and Emma Guara, 4, and Magaly Delgado, 80.
Another 128 people are still missing.
After searching, operations on the were suspended at the latest on Thursday due to safety considerations over the construction still on the Array, plans are being made to demolish it.
“We are proceeding with our assessment of all the factors, all the time, and the effects similar to the demolition of the building. While search and rescue remains our most sensitive priority, and it is to be emphasized, as our engineer explained last night, that a demolition cannot take place overnight. In fact, demolishing a building takes weeks,” Levine Cava said.
On Friday, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett identified firefighters’ efforts and identified Miami Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah, who led the rescue efforts and spoke to families daily.
“He works 20 hours a day and sleeps 4 hours at sunset from the start. He’s the guy I see when I’m here and I’m here a lot,” Burkett said. “Ray has been a beacon, a stone, a source of hope for families. He attended the briefings every day, answering difficult questions. “
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state’s Division of Emergency Management continues to paint contingency plans for hurricane Elsa’s tropical weather effects.
To help families affected by the collapse, Neighbors Four Neighbors has created a fund.
To contribute, call Neighbors Neighbors at (305) 597-0 or stop by Neighborneighbors. org/surfsidefund.
To date, they have raised more than $90,000.