Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor, stated that the recovery of victims is “moving forward in great urgency” to provide closure for the victims’ families who have waited two weeks to hear from the authorities.
Levine Cava stated that the death toll was “a shocking and heartbreaking number that impacts all of us very deeply.”
“All the people who have died — all 78 — are leaving behind their loved ones. They are leaving behind devastated families. She said that the tragedy’s scale is increasing every day.
Florida’s emergency response teams and rescue workers have worked 12 hour shifts and 24 hours per day at Surfside’s beachfront condo. This was physically and emotionally exhausting work in oppressive heat and dangerous conditions.
Levine Cava stated that “We know there will be long-term effects for the teams on top line.” “They have given so many of themselves in the first two weeks.”
Chief of Miami-Dade Fire Alan Cominsky stated that taking care of first responders’ mental health and well-being is a top priority. He stated that it was crucial for first responders to communicate with one another. He stated, “It is important for us to communicate.”
Levine Cava stated that officials have also added peer support personnel to the fire stations.
Since the initial hours following the collapse of large sections of the Champlain Towers South (12-story) on June 24, no one has been found alive.
Workers demolished the remaining portion of the building on Sunday night and allowed access to new areas. This gave hope that survivors might be found. There were some voids in which survivors might have been trapped, but they were mostly located in the basement or the garage. However, no one was found alive. Teams recovered more than 12 victims.
Workers switched their mission from rescue to recovery on Wednesday after concluding there was no chance of survival in the rubble.
Levine Cava stated that the loss of so many people is “an aching gap in the middle of this close-knit family in Surfside.”
A radio report byParaguay’s Foreign Minister stated that the body found was that of the sister to the country’s first Lady. Many Latin American citizens were among those who fell into the building after it collapsed. Instead of focusing on survivors, rescue workers are now concentrating their efforts on finding remains. They have promised to continue searching for victims until all debris is cleared away.
State and local officials have offered financial assistance to the families of the victims as well as residents who were able to survive but lost their possessions. Authorities are currently conducting a grand jury investigation into collapse. Families have filed at least six lawsuits.
