Alfredo ran to wake his son Michael, aged 24, and urged him to get dressed before running to the balcony.
“All I could see was white dust that was very thick. “I could barely see the balcony railing.”
The emergency alarm rang, advising residents of Champlain Towers South that they needed to evacuate. Lopez considered sneakers but his hands were shaking so much that he could not tie the laces. He settled for sandals with straps.
Marian Lopez looked confused. Marian Lopez, 67, was disoriented as her husband pressurized her impatiently.
The Lopez family lived on the street side, which is still partially intact, for over two decades. Alfredo used joke to his wife that he would have to be buried there.
Half of the building had vanished when he opened it that night. The floor was a five-foot thick and barely allowed for escape.
“There was no corridor, no ceiling, apartments, walls or any other structure.”
The terrified 61-year old couldn’t move and froze in fear.
“I was terrified. “I was terrified. “We are going to die.”
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Sometimes the line between life or death can seem as random as an ocean view or street view, or an odd or even unit. Nine days later, 126 residents, mostly from oceanside units, were among those who disappeared. However, others managed to escape. After the elevator fell, survivors climbed the cracked staircase that was separated from the wall. Along the way, they helped neighbors and friends they had known for years.
Although their escape seemed agonizingly slow, it happened in a matter of minutes. They were fighting for survival in those dangerous seconds before the world learned of the other 22 victims and many others.
Aguero stated, “When I opened the staircase doors and half of the staircase was missing from my hand, I knew we were racing against time to get out as a family.”
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Gabriel Nir, a recent college graduate, was down on the first floor and was cooking salmon in the kitchen. While the rest of the family would be sleeping, Gabriel Nir’s 15-year-old brother was at the shower. His dad was away and his mom just returned from a party.
The first thunderous rumble was heard by all. The building was under construction. They were aware of the noise and were already annoyed by it. But this time, the sound felt completely different.
Sara Nir, their mom, ran to the lobby and asked the security guard if anything had been seen.
