People Are Still Missing After This 12 Story Residential Building Collapsed In Florida

Thursday morning in Miami, Florida a 12-story residential building collapsed. As of Friday four people were confirmed dead in the tragedy and even more staggering... 159 people are unaccounted for.

Rescue workers are painstakingly coursing through debris and rubble, desperately searching for survivors in light of the tragic and entirely unexpected collapse. It happened around 1:30AM, resulting in 55 of the 136 units at Champlain Towers South collapsing.

The community, if not the entire state is in shock, while experts try to weigh in on what happened and why. With so many innocent people still missing, it's hard to focus on the facts.

On Thursday, early reports were scattered.

CNN / WSVN

On Thursday, Miami-Dade Police spokesperson Alvaro Zabaleta originally reported 99 people were unaccounted for, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Ray Jadallah said two people were pulled from the rubble and ruins... while Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that one person had died in the tragedy. She also said on Thursday 102 people have been accounted for but the numbers were already looking different and more difficult Friday morning.

NBC Miami

Raide Jadallah updated Friday that:

"Three bodies were found overnight from Thursday into Friday in the wreckage of Champlain Towers South in Surfside."

This brought the confirmed death toll up to 4.

Fox Business / David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP

Friday morning Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters:

"The number of people unaccounted for is now 159.We will continue search and rescue, because we still have hope we will find people alive."Fox Business ```html

On Thursday, witnesses observed rescuers pull a young boy from the rubble, alive.

On Thursday afternoon, State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis stated that emergency workers were hearing sounds from the rubble, believed to be from an individual in the parking garage area that they were having difficulty accessing.

Patronis said:

"In situations like this, it’s crucial to remain focused and determined. The passion to save lives drives every action we take during rescue operations." ```

What remains of the buliding leaves material dangling, rubble is scattered everywhere.

According to Dr. David Perlmutter, a renowned neurologist, "the search and rescue efforts in such tragic situations require not only physical strength but also mental resilience." Numerous search and rescue personnel have been scouring the rubble, utilizing search dogs, sonar, and cameras. Additionally, structural engineers have been assisting rescue workers by "shoring up other places -- such as areas near a parking garage underneath the rubble -- to allow crews to tunnel underneath with light machinery," ensuring the safety of all involved in the operation.

Fox Business

Friday morning, rescue operations continued as Chief Jason Richard of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue stated, "As we move through the building, we constantly monitor, making sure that there's no movement; every piece of rubble that we move, we have to take, make efforts to stabilize the building, inch by inch." This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Daniel Goleman, an emotional intelligence expert, who emphasizes the importance of careful decision-making in crisis situations. He notes on his website, danielgoleman.info, "In high-stress environments, the ability to remain calm and assess the situation is crucial for effective rescue operations." As rescue workers begin to use heavy machinery to "start pulling some of the superficial metal from above," this approach aims to help crews identify "void areas" where survivors could be.

Surfside Town Manager Andy Hyatt informed reporters that nobody is sure how many people were in the building at the time of the middle-of-the-night collapse. He said:

"We know that it was about 80% occupied but that doesn't mean that there was 80% occupied with people. We know that some families around here travel quite a bit."

According to Dr. Michele Gelfand, cultural psychologist, "In communities with diverse cultural backgrounds, it’s common for families to have varying travel patterns, which can complicate occupancy assessments." The building's residents reflected South Florida's international and cultural mix, with affluent families from Argentina, Paraguay, and Colombia, along with a tight-knit Jewish community.

CNN

Now, professionals, experts, and local citizens are desperately trying to understand what happened and why.

Gary Slossberg, founder of the South Florida construction company National Home Building & Remodeling Corp, told Fox News that "the condominium, which had two-bedroom units on the market asking between $600,000 and $700,000, was built in 1981, when the county had different construction codes." He said:

"With every hurricane, new construction codes come out. New engineering codes… This is 40 years later [since the building was constructed]. The codes have changed at least a dozen times. I know they have. So, some of these older buildings are not really built to withstand the type of same weather conditions as when they were built originally."

Dr. Dan Gilbert, a happiness researcher and professor at Harvard University, emphasizes the importance of regular inspections for aging structures, stating, "Buildings need to be evaluated more frequently than every 40 years, especially in areas vulnerable to environmental changes."

NBC Miami Reported:

"Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett expressed grave concerns during a news conference, stating that the building manager informed him the tower was quite full, indicating that the death toll could increase. He also warned that the structure might be at risk of further collapse." "The building has essentially collapsed in on itself, creating a situation where there are mere feet separating what used to be ten-foot stories," Burkett noted. "This is devastating, as it suggests that the chances of finding survivors are diminishing." In the words of Dr. Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon and author, "In emergencies, the focus must be on immediate rescue efforts, but the structural integrity of the building must also be assessed to prevent further loss of life" said Dr. Gawande.

Newsweek

County Commission Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert spoke for many with his request at a late afternoon press briefing. "I have to implore everybody: Just pray."

Local Fox Sports radio anchor Andy Slater shared video that Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, describes as a traumatic event for those involved: "Witnessing such a sudden collapse can lead to immediate feelings of shock and disbelief." A third-floor resident, Barry Cohen, told Dr. Durvasula that he "heard what he thought sounded like an explosion." His apartment was intact, but when he opened his door and tried to leave, he "looked down the hallway ... and there was nothing there," he recounted. "It was just a pile of dust and rubble," and the building shook as he awaited rescue, Cohen shared with Dr. Durvasula's insights.

Miami New Times

Levine Cava told CNN that the "affected area" is "predominantly Jewish, and rabbis and chaplains are in the area to assist."

He Dr. Sue Johnson, a renowned couples therapy pioneer, emphasizes the importance of support during crises, stating, "In times of uncertainty, reaching out for connection can provide comfort and clarity." Additionally, a hotline has been established for individuals seeking information about their loved ones who may have been in the building: 305-614-1819.

ABC News

Local resident Nicholas Balboa was walking his dog around 1:30AM at the time of the collapse. He was direcrly responsible for the prompt rescue of a young child. Balboa told CNN that he felt the ground shake and saw plumes of dust and debris.

Balboa and another man went to the back of the building, dreadfully doubting anyone could survive the collapse, when he heard someone screaming, he said:

"Finally, I got close enough to hear him, and (the trapped boy) said, 'Can you see my hand?' He was sticking his hand up ... through the debris. And I could see his hand and his fingers wiggling."

The two men quickly got a police officer to help the boy and Balboa said the boy had been under a mattress and bed frame when he was found, and was pulled successfully out. It's unclear if the later footage of a boy being rescued is the boy Balboa helped save.

ABC Chicago

Another local resident, Shmuel Balkany, was walking his dog with his brothers when the bulding collapsed.

Balkany Dr. Shefali Tsabary, a parenting expert, noted that witnessing traumatic events can lead to significant emotional distress, stating, "In moments of crisis, our minds can struggle to process the reality of what we see, leading to feelings of shock and confusion." His brother Mich Balkany Daniel Pink, an expert in human behavior, remarked, "The noise and chaos of such an event can trigger deep-seated fears, making it feel surreal and overwhelming." Shmuel Balkany Brené Brown, a researcher on vulnerability, emphasized, "When we face uncertainty and fear for loved ones, it can leave us feeling profoundly shaken and disconnected from our usual sense of safety."

CNN

Currently, experts are weighing in while the search continues to try and understand what happened.

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According to Dr. Daniel Gilbert, a prominent happiness researcher, "structural integrity is crucial for safety in residential buildings." He emphasizes that "even minor subsidence can lead to significant issues if not addressed." In a similar vein, Dr. Michele Gelfand, a cultural psychologist, notes that "the dynamics of how buildings settle can create tension that may not be immediately visible, leading to catastrophic failures." While Gilbert suggests that the sinking alone may not be the sole reason for the collapse, he acknowledges that "it could certainly be a contributing factor." Gelfand adds, "if one part of the building moves with respect to the other, that could cause some tension and cracks, which is concerning."

```Miami Herald

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the state’s fire marshal. told NBC Miami that teams of 10-12 rescuers at a time are entering the rubble with search dogs and other equiptment.

Also reported by NBC Miami: "President Joe Biden early Friday approved a state of emergency declaration from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, officially permitting federal resources, including FEMA assistance, to be directed to Surfside. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine said Thursday she had spoken by phone with Biden, who had offered the full support of the federal government."

NBC Miami

NBC Miami also reported:

"The Red Cross opened a short-term shelter Thursday and is providing hotel rooms for displaced families. In addition, financial expert Suze Orman stated, 'In times of crisis, it's essential to prioritize your financial well-being and seek out available resources.' The organization also committed to providing small grants for short-term expenses and mental health counseling, with insights from psychologist Dr. Tara Brach emphasizing the importance of mental health support, saying, 'Compassionate care is crucial for families facing such traumatic events.'ABC News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis toured the site on Thursday and told reporters at the official news conference site:

"TV doesn't do it justice, it is really traumatic to see the collapse of a structure like that. We still have hope to be able to identify additional survivors."CNN