SURFSIDE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: A portion of the 12-story condo tower crumbled to the ground following a partial collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Roommates we are continuing to keep those affected by the building collapse that took place in Miami last week. On Tuesday, Miami Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava gave an update on the fatalities and said that the death toll has now risen to 12, and the number of people unaccounted for has decreased to 149, and the number of people accounted for is now 125.
According to Local 10 News, one of the first lawsuits to be filed against the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association in response to the collapse was filed last week late Thursday following the collapse. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Manuel Drezner and “on behalf of all others similarly situated.” The lawsuit, which was filed by the Brad Sohn Law Firm, alleges that the building’s association failed to “secure and safeguard the lives and property” of those who live at the building. They are asking that the victims are compensated after the collapse.
The news outlet also reports that another lawsuit was filed over the weekend. It was filed on behalf of Steve Rosenthal, who lived in Unit 705. In his lawsuit, it says the association knew or should have known “the entire structure was deteriorating and becoming susceptible to catastrophic loss by collapse.” He is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Bob McKee, Rosenthal’s attorney said, “The conditions relating to its collapse exist in many of our hi-rise concrete buildings. Change to effectuate more frequent inspection, with teeth in compelling immediate complete and timely repair must be effectuated. Otherwise, we will have other events such as the horrible failure and collapse we have all witnessed at Champlain Towers South. The last thing we want to see is more harm, in either slow water-damaged building health damage, or in instantaneous building failure.”
NBC News reports that a letter was sent to the residents at the Champlain Towers South back in April and said that the “concrete deterioration is accelerating” and they were reportedly warned that damage “would begin to multiply exponentially.”
Engineering consultant Frank Morabito, who was hired back in 2018 to get started on the recertification process, reported that there was “abundant cracking” and crumbling in the underground parking garage of the building, and that waterproofing under the pool deck and entrance drive was failing, “causing major structural damage to the concrete structural slab below these areas.”
CNN reports that Col. Golan Vach, commander of the Israeli National Rescue Unit, said that the site where they are searching for people has been the most difficult he’s worked with and added, “This building collapsed very, very badly, if I can use this word because it collapsed into itself.”
He continued, “And the bedrooms that we are looking for, because the people (slept) in the bedrooms, are under 4 or 5 meters (13 to 16 feet) of concrete.”
We are continuing to keep those affected by this tragedy lifted in prayer and we will continue to keep you updated.
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
