Four more bodies are found in rubble after explosives demolished what was left of collapsed Miami condo tower: 117 residents are STILL missing with Tropical Storm Elsa approaching

  • Miami-Dade officials allowed rescue crews to resume search for missing victims of Surfside condo collapse
  • Three more bodies were pulled from the rubble by search crews on Monday morning in South Florida 
  • Two identified as Tzvi, 66, and Ingrid Ainsworth, a married couple who split time between Australia and Miami
  • Resumption of search comes after controlled demolition of second condo tower late on Sunday night
  • So far rescuers have recovered the remains of 28 people, with 117 still missing; 26 have been identified
  • On Sunday, Miami-Dade police identified David Epstein, 58, as one of the 24 people known to have perished 
  • Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told NBC search resumed just before midnight on Sunday 
  • The demolition was carried out by Maryland-based company Controlled Demolition Inc.
  • Israeli search-and-rescue expert Col. Golan Vach, who has been working with local rescue teams, said on Sunday afternoon, however, that he was doubtful that any survivors remained in the rubble 
  • It came as Tropical Storm Elsa is scheduled to make landfall in Florida on Tuesday night
  • The approaching storm had added urgency to the effort for fear it could knock down what remained of the building in an uncontrolled manner 

The remains of three more people were recovered Monday as rescuers got the all-clear to resume looking for victims at a collapsed South Florida condo after crews demolished the last of the building in a planned explosion and plume of dust.

Authorities said on Monday that the controlled demolition will allow for quicker recovery and identification of those missing in the rubble since most of the master bedrooms were inaccessible to search crews beforehand. 

As of early Monday morning, the remains of 28 people had been recovered from the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside while 117 remain missing. So far, 26 of the victims have been identified.

Two of those whose bodies were recovered on Monday have been identified as 68-year-old Tzvi Ainsworth and his wife, Ingrid Ainsworth, 66. The couple, who moved to Miami from Melbourne, Australia, had an apartment on the 11th floor.  

Rescue workers lift a tarp containing recovered remains at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building on Monday

Rescue workers lift a tarp containing recovered remains at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building on Monday

The remaining structure was demolished Sunday, which partially collapsed June 24. Many people remain unaccounted for

The remaining structure was demolished Sunday, which partially collapsed June 24. Many people remain unaccounted for

Three more bodies were found at the site of the demolished condo building on Monday morning

Three more bodies were found at the site of the demolished condo building on Monday morning

Rescue workers move a stretcher containing recovered remains at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building

Rescue workers move a stretcher containing recovered remains at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building

Tzvi (pictured far left) and Ingrid (pictured far right) Ainsworth, members of the Jewish community from Melbourne, lived in an apartment on the 11th floor of the building. Their remains were identified on Monday

The Ainsworths, who were well known among Melbourne's small Jewish community, split their time between Florida and Australia.

Their son in South Africa recently had a baby, and their son in Florida had a baby just days ago, their niece Chana Harrel told the Associated Press on Saturday. 

Approaching Tropical Storm Elsa added urgency to the demolition with forecasts suggesting the system could bring strong winds and heavy rains. The Miami area will start feeling some effects from Elsa Monday afternoon.

The outer bands of the storm, which made landfall in western Cuba at around 2pm on Monday, were hitting South Florida, where meteorologists measured occasional wind gusts of up to 40mph. There were also reports of heavy downpours and tornado watches.  

The problem for the collapse site would come if the storm moves north, instead of continuing on its apparent track along the Gulf Coast side of Florida. 

If it moves north, the rain and gusty winds would shift inland and batter sections along Florida's southern shoreline, according to AccuWeather.

Tropical Storm Elsa swept along Cuba’s southern coast early on Monday, and forecasters said it made landfall on the island’s central shore by midafternoon. Maximum sustained winds of 60mph were recorded at Cienaga de Zapata National Park some 80 miles southeast of Havana along the coast of western Cuba.

By Sunday, Cuban officials had evacuated 180,000 people as a precaution against the possibility of heavy flooding from a storm that already battered several Caribbean islands, killing at least three people.  

Workers demolished what remained standing of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside on Sunday evening in a bid to open up further areas for rescue

Workers demolished what remained standing of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside on Sunday evening in a bid to open up further areas for rescue

So far, rescuers have recovered the remains of 28 people, with 117 still missing. The remains of 24 people have been identified

So far, rescuers have recovered the remains of 28 people, with 117 still missing. The remains of 24 people have been identified

Rescuers hope the demolition will open up areas such as parts of the garage section of the building for the first time

Rescuers hope the demolition will open up areas such as parts of the garage section of the building for the first time

Officials initially believed it would take weeks to tear down the damaged building

Officials initially believed it would take weeks to tear down the damaged building 

Officials made the announcement Saturday that they were bringing the building down out of fears it could collapse on its own

Officials made the announcement Saturday that they were bringing the building down out of fears it could collapse on its own

Search and rescue operations resumed soon after the remaining structure was razed

Search and rescue operations resumed soon after the remaining structure was razed 

The images above show the progression of the demolition of the remaining structure late on Sunday

The images above show the progression of the demolition of the remaining structure late on Sunday

Most of those evacuated stayed at relatives' homes, others went to government shelters, and hundreds living in mountainous areas took refuge in caves prepared for emergencies.

Elsa was forecast to cross over Cuba by Monday night and then head for Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 15 counties, including in Miami-Dade County, where a high-rise condominium building collapsed on June 24.

Late Monday morning, Elsa’s center was about 140 miles south-southeast of Havana and moving northwest at 14 mph. Its maximum sustained winds were about 65 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. 

President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida because of the storm, making federal aid possible. 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told the Associated Press that the demolition went 'exactly as planned' around 10:30pm on Sunday.    

The remains of three more people were pulled from the debris in Surfside on Monday after rescue efforts resumed

The remains of three more people were pulled from the debris in Surfside on Monday after rescue efforts resumed

A pile of debris is seen above on the morning after the controlled demolition in Surfside on Monday

A pile of debris is seen above on the morning after the controlled demolition in Surfside on Monday

The image above shows another vantage point of the rubble of the demolished condo tower in Surfside on Monday morning

The image above shows another vantage point of the rubble of the demolished condo tower in Surfside on Monday morning

Approaching Tropical Storm Elsa had added urgency to the demolition plans with forecasts suggesting the system could bring strong winds. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida because of the storm, making federal aid possible. The image above shows Elsa on a satellite as it reached mainland Cuba at 3pm Eastern Time on Monday

Approaching Tropical Storm Elsa had added urgency to the demolition plans with forecasts suggesting the system could bring strong winds. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida because of the storm, making federal aid possible. The image above shows Elsa on a satellite as it reached mainland Cuba at 3pm Eastern Time on Monday

The image above shows large gray clouds over Havana just before Elsa made landfall in Cuba on Monday

The image above shows large gray clouds over Havana just before Elsa made landfall in Cuba on Monday

Residents of Tampa, Florida prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa on Monday

Residents of Tampa, Florida prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa on Monday

A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the west coast Florida as the storm is expected to make landfall on Tuesday

A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the west coast Florida as the storm is expected to make landfall on Tuesday

The storm made landfall in western Cuba at around 2pm on Monday afternoon. It is expected to reach the Florida Keys on Tuesday morning and the mainland US on Tuesday evening

The storm made landfall in western Cuba at around 2pm on Monday afternoon. It is expected to reach the Florida Keys on Tuesday morning and the mainland US on Tuesday evening

Tornado threats remain possible for most of Florida due to the approaching tropical storm

Tornado threats remain possible for most of Florida due to the approaching tropical storm

Significant storm surge is likely in the Florida Keys and the west coast of the state, according to the forecast

Significant storm surge is likely in the Florida Keys and the west coast of the state, according to the forecast

South Florida could see intermittent periods of downpours due to the approaching tropical storm

South Florida could see intermittent periods of downpours due to the approaching tropical storm

As of 2pm on Monday, most of the western coast of Florida was under a tropical storm warning

As of 2pm on Monday, most of the western coast of Florida was under a tropical storm warning

Wind gusts of up to 40mph were reported in South Florida as the storm's outer bands laced the Miami region

Wind gusts of up to 40mph were reported in South Florida as the storm's outer bands laced the Miami region 

The eastern coast of Southern Florida is likely to see no more than 2 inches of rain due to the storm

The eastern coast of Southern Florida is likely to see no more than 2 inches of rain due to the storm

Wind gusts of up to 40mph could be felt in South Florida, possibly hampering rescue efforts in Surfside

Wind gusts of up to 40mph could be felt in South Florida, possibly hampering rescue efforts in Surfside

The image above indicates that the storm poses some risk to lives and property in Cuba, Florida, and the eastern seaboard of the United States

The image above indicates that the storm poses some risk to lives and property in Cuba, Florida, and the eastern seaboard of the United States

The storm is expected to crawl up the eastern seaboard before venturing out into the Atlantic Ocean later in the week

The storm is expected to crawl up the eastern seaboard before venturing out into the Atlantic Ocean later in the week

'It was picture perfect. Exactly what we were told would happen,' Levine Cava said in an interview shortly after the demolition. 

She also explained Monday that rescue workers scoured the building to see if there were any pets left behind before the demolition. 

'The latest information we have is that there are no animals remaining in the building,' Levine Cava said. 

The demolition on Sunday night also was key to resuming the search for victims of the June 24 collapse and is even expected to open new areas for rescue teams to work in. 

Crews immediately began clearing some of the new debris so rescuers could start making their way into parts of the underground garage that is of particular interest. 

It wasn't long before cranes were again in motion at the site. Levine Cava said in an interview on NBC’s TODAY that crews were back searching the rubble before midnight.   

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives a statement to the media in Miami on Monday

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives a statement to the media in Miami on Monday

'Stop the demolition until animals are safe!' Pet lovers circulate petition against razing of condo building but Miami-Dade mayor said fire crews used thermal imaging and drones but couldn't find anymore

Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine Cava said on Monday that Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue conducted three full sweeps of the Champlain Towers South before it was demolished late on Sunday. She said firefighters looked in closets and under beds for any missing animals

Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine Cava said on Monday that Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue conducted three full sweeps of the Champlain Towers South before it was demolished late on Sunday. She said firefighters looked in closets and under beds for any missing animals

Miami-Dade County officials on Monday said they scanned the demolished remnant of the collapsed condo building in Surfside for abandoned pets before it was razed to the ground late on Sunday.

Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine Cava said on Monday that Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue conducted three full sweeps of the Champlain Towers South before it was demolished late Sunday.

She said firefighters looked in closets and under beds for any missing animals.

Levine Cava also said that thermal-imaging technology and drones were deployed in hopes of finding pets.

‘We went truly to great lengths to take every step that we could at great risk to our first responders (to ensure no pets) were left in the building prior to demolition,’ she said.

The mayor addressed the issue after an outcry on the internet over plans to demolish the building while possibly leaving behind pets.

An online petition titled ‘Stop Surfside building demolition until all animals are safe!’ generated more than 18,000 signatures before it was stopped.

Another online campaign demanded that the owners of one of the units inside the building be permitted back in to save their cats - Mia and Coco.

One Miami resident who signed the petition, Julie Miro, said she emailed Levin, Governor Ron DeSantis, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue urging them to save any animals still inside.

'If there were people in there they would have found a way,' Miro told the Miami Herald.

'But they don’t think animals are as valuable.'

'Many in the community have raised this concern (about the building’s pets),' Levine Cava said on Sunday.

'I want to be clear that search and rescue conducted three separate searches, a primary, a secondary and a tertiary.

'And, they found no animals.

'I was informed this morning that they did a sweep with cameras and found no animals at this time.'

An online petition titled ‘Stop Surfside building demolition until all animals are safe!’ generated more than 18,000 signatures before it was stopped. Another online campaign demanded that the owners of one of the units inside the building be permitted back in to save their cats - Mia and Coco

An online petition titled ‘Stop Surfside building demolition until all animals are safe!’ generated more than 18,000 signatures before it was stopped. Another online campaign demanded that the owners of one of the units inside the building be permitted back in to save their cats - Mia and Coco

Dahlia Kanes, the director of Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation, told the Herald that it is believed that five dogs and cats, a guinea pig, and some parakeets were in the building before demolition.

An animal-rescue volunteer went to court to get access to the building to save any left-behind pets. But Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman late Sunday night denied the motion, saying he would not second guess the decision to demolish the building, according to the Miami Herald. 

Levine Cara also said that the building was simply too unstable for a thorough search of animals.

'I've also been in touch with the contractor and provided locations of animals that were given to me who might be in the building,' Levine Cava said.

'They are aware and doing everything they might do just to make an additional search.

'But I want to be very clear that they would not be doing that on site because they are not going to be able to go into those units.

'It is not safe for anyone to go beyond the first floor.' 

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Once there, they were hoping to get a clearer picture of voids that may exist in the rubble as they search for those believed to be trapped under the fallen wing of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside that collapsed June 24.

No one has been rescued alive since the first hours after the collapse. 

On Sunday, Miami-Dade police identified David Epstein, 58, as one of the latest of 24 people known to have perished in the fallen tower. His remains were recovered on Friday. 

The body of David's wife, Bonnie, 56, was recovered days earlier. The couple, who worked in real estate investments, moved to Florida to retire early so that they could pursue their love of water sports, according to a friend.

Richard Oller, a friend of the couple, wrote on Facebook that David and Bonnie lived on the ninth floor of the building with their dog. The couple is survived by their son, Jonathan, 26, a resident of Brooklyn, New York.

Cranes are working to clear debris at the site of a demolished condo on Monday morning in Surfside, Florida

Cranes are working to clear debris at the site of a demolished condo on Monday morning in Surfside, Florida

Rescue efforts at the site resumed just before midnight late on Sunday night - moments after the controlled demolition

Rescue efforts at the site resumed just before midnight late on Sunday night - moments after the controlled demolition

A makeshift memorial was set up just feet away from the site of the collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida

A makeshift memorial was set up just feet away from the site of the collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida

The decision by officials to bring the rest of the building down was brought on by the approach of Tropical Storm Elsa and fears that the structure might come down in an uncontrolled fashion

The decision by officials to bring the rest of the building down was brought on by the approach of Tropical Storm Elsa and fears that the structure might come down in an uncontrolled fashion

Air conditioning units and other debris are seen above at the site of the controlled demolition in Surfside, Florida on Monday

Air conditioning units and other debris are seen above at the site of the controlled demolition in Surfside, Florida on Monday

So far, the remains of 24 people have been identified while at least 118 people remain missing as of early Monday morning

So far, the remains of 24 people have been identified while at least 118 people remain missing as of early Monday morning

A sign that reads 'Surfside Strong' hangs on the window of a home the morning after the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo was taken down with a controlled demolition

A sign that reads 'Surfside Strong' hangs on the window of a home the morning after the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo was taken down with a controlled demolition

Some residents had pleaded to return to their homes one last time before the demolition to retrieve belongings left in haste, but were denied. 

Others wondered about the pets left behind, even though officials said they found no signs of animals after making three final sweeps, including the use of drones to peer into the abandoned structure. 

Levine Cava said officials have been explaining their decisions to the survivors since the beginning of the search-and-rescue effort.

'We understand that families realize the fact that time has gone by, they realize that the chances are growing all dimmer,' she said on TODAY.

'They are with us, they know what we've been doing every step of the way.'

The mayor also said that teams are working to save any personal items they can.

'We have been asking them to go ahead and catalog all of their precious belongings so that as soon as they are recovered, we'll be able to make a match.' 

Rescue crews are seen on Monday working at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building after the remaining structure was demolished on Sunday

Rescue crews are seen on Monday working at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building after the remaining structure was demolished on Sunday

Rescuers were given the all-clear to resume work looking for victims on Monday morning

Rescuers were given the all-clear to resume work looking for victims on Monday morning

The demolition Sunday night was key to resuming the search for victims of the June 24 collapse and is even expected to open new areas for rescue teams to work in

The demolition Sunday night was key to resuming the search for victims of the June 24 collapse and is even expected to open new areas for rescue teams to work in

On Sunday, Miami-Dade police identified David Epstein, 58, as one of the 24 people known to have perished in the fallen tower. His remains were recovered on Friday

On Sunday, Miami-Dade police identified David Epstein, 58, as one of the 24 people known to have perished in the fallen tower. His remains were recovered on Friday

Many people are unaccounted for in the rubble of the building which partially collapsed on June 24

Many people are unaccounted for in the rubble of the building which partially collapsed on June 24

Rescue crews are seen above on Monday working at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building after the remaining structure was demolished late on Sunday

Rescue crews are seen above on Monday working at the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building after the remaining structure was demolished late on Sunday

No one has been found alive since the first hours after the disaster.  

On Sunday afternoon, Col. Golan Vach, an Israeli search-and-rescue operations expert who has been working at the site, said he was doubtful that further survivors would be found.    

'I believe right now that the chances are close to zero, unfortunately,' Vach told reporters with Local 10

'We are trying to be hopeful, but realistic at the same time,' he said of conversations with families of the victims.  

Search efforts had been suspended Saturday to allow demolition workers to drill holes for the explosives needed to bring the damaged Surfside building down. 

Through the night, rescuers were awaiting the 'all-clear' after the demolition so they could dive back into the task of trying to locate any survivors buried under the rubble. 

Officials previously said the search could resume from 15 minutes to an hour after the detonation.

'We are standing by. We are ready to go in, no matter the time of night,' Levine Cava told a news conference earlier Sunday night.

Concerns had mounted that the damaged building was at risk of falling on its own. Parts of the remaining building shifted on Thursday, prompting a 15-hour suspension in the work.  

Officials first announced plans to bring the partially collapsed building down at a news conference on Saturday morning.  

The decision to raise the damaged building came as Tropical Storm Elsa bore down on the area

The decision to raise the damaged building came as Tropical Storm Elsa bore down on the area

The demolition was carried out by Maryland-based company Controlled Demolition Inc

The demolition was carried out by Maryland-based company Controlled Demolition Inc

Stephanie Rioja prayed as the partially collapsed towers were demolished

Stephanie Rioja prayed as the partially collapsed towers were demolished

Crowds watched the damaged building fall Sunday evening

Crowds watched the damaged building fall Sunday evening 

Levine Cava issued a State of Emergency Saturday for Tropical Storm Elsa and made the 'dramatic decision' to sign an emergency order to raze the building before the storm hits the area.  

DeSantis said during Saturday morning's press conference that they wouldn't let people who escaped go back and get their possessions before the demolition. 

'At the end of the day, that building is too unsafe to let people go back in,' DeSantis said. 

'I know there’s a lot of people who were able to get out, fortunately, who have things there. We’re very sensitive to that. But I don’t think that there’s any way you could let someone go back up into that building given the shape that it’s in now.'

In terms of the demolition, officials were told Friday evening that it would take weeks to safely tear down the remaining structure, but Cava said Saturday morning that the Maryland-based demolition company Controlled Demolition Inc. came forward the previous night. 

Controlled Demolition Inc. says on its website that it has demolished 'thousands of structures across six continents using explosives.' The method of demolition was 'energetic felling,' which uses small detonation devices and relies on the force of gravity. 

Meteorologists predict the eye of the storm, which was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, won't directly hit the area, but Surfside and the surrounding municipalities could feel the brunt of strong wind gusts.  

While the Caribbean Islands are expected to be hit hardest, Florida officials feared the storm's gusts could knock down the remaining structure 'in a direction we don't want it to go,' Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. 

As of Sunday, AccuWeather forecasters said Elsa was most likely to enter the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm was predicted to make landfall north of Tampa and head along the west coast of Florida.

But Southeast Florida will start to feel its effects Monday afternoon through the middle of the week. According to AccuWeather, Florida is expected to get enough rainfall to cause flooding along with damaging winds.  

A Miami-Dade County Police boat patrols in front of the Champlain Towers South condo building on Friday, shortly before officials made the decision to demolish the remaining structure with explosives

A Miami-Dade County Police boat patrols in front of the Champlain Towers South condo building on Friday, shortly before officials made the decision to demolish the remaining structure with explosives 

Workers transport a stretcher with remains extricated from the rubble on Friday, near the Champlain Towers South condo building, where 118 people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed

 Workers transport a stretcher with remains extricated from the rubble on Friday, near the Champlain Towers South condo building, where 118 people remain missing more than a week after it partially collapsed

The official cause of the June 24 collapse is under investigation. A 2018 engineering report found that the building's ground-floor pool deck was resting on a concrete slab that had 'major structural damage' and needed extensive repairs. The report also found 'abundant cracking' of concrete columns, beams and walls in the parking garage.

Just two months before the building fell, the president of its board wrote a letter to residents saying that structural problems identified in the 2018 inspection had 'gotten significantly worse' and that major repairs would cost at least $15.5 million. 

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill visited the site and the makeshift memorial last week, and met with local and state officials in Florida, victims' families and first responders. 

 'I promise you: I know. What you're doing here is incredible,' the president told first responders.

THE MIAMI CONDO COLLAPSE VICTIMS IDENTIFIED SO FAR

54-year-old Stacie Fang

54-year-old Stacie Fang

STACIE DAWN FANG

Stacie Dawn Fang, 54, was with her son Jonah Handler, a teenager, when the building collapsed. They lived on the tenth floor. The boy's small hand waved through the wreckage as a man out walking his dog hurried to the site, climbed through a pile of glass and rebar and promised to get help right away.

Rescuers helped the boy out from under a pile of cement and carried him away on a stretcher to a hospital.

'There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Stacie,' members of her family said in a statement. 'Many heartfelt words of encouragement and love have served as a much needed source of strength during this devastating time.'

Asked about the boy's condition, a family friend, Lisa Mozloom told the AP 'He will be fine. He's a miracle.'

MANUEL LAFONT

Manuel LaFont, 54

Manuel LaFont, 54

Manuel LaFont, 54, was a proud father, a baseball fan and a business consultant who lived on the building's eighth floor. 

He had a 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter with his ex-wife Adriana LaFont, the Miami Herald reported.

Adriana asked her friends on Facebook to pray the rosary for Manny before his body was found. 'So many memories inside the walls that are no more today, forever engraved experiences in the heart,' she wrote.

LaFont, a Houston native, coached his son's baseball team, the Astros, at North Shore Park, just a mile away from the Champlain. He was a parishioner at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Miami Beach. The parish's school parents gathered Saturday afternoon to pray for LaFont and his neighbors who were still missing.

An alumnus of Sharpstown High School in Houston, LaFont had worked across Latin America and the Caribbean for a manufacturing firm, leading a division focusing on roadway safety that built crash cushions and moveable barriers, the Herald reported.

'I got into this industry specifically because I don't want to sell widgets. I want to help people. I want to do something good in this world,' he said at an industry conference in 2016. 'When I die, I want to say that my life meant something.'

ANTONIO AND GLADYS LOZANO

Antonio and Gladys Lozano

Antonio and Gladys Lozano

Antonio and Gladys Lozano lived on the ninth floor. The two had known each other over 60 years and would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on July 21.

Their sons told WPLG-TV that the couple had joked neither wanted to die before the other, because neither wanted to live without the other. Their one solace, the brothers said, was that they were together when they died.

Authorities confirmed on Saturday that Antonio, 83, and Gladys, 79, were among the dead.

Sergio Lozano said he had dinner with his parents hours before the collapse. He lived in one of the towers of the complex and could see his parents' apartment across the way from his. That night, he said the heard a loud noise they thought could be a storm.

'The building is not there,' he said he told his wife. 'My parents' apartment is not there. It's gone.'

ANA ORTIZ, HER HUSBAND FRANK AND HER SON LUIZ 

Ana Ortiz, left, and her son Luis Bermudez

Ana Ortiz, left, and her son Luis Bermudez and Leon Oliwkowicz and his wife Christina (right) 

Luis Bermudez, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, had battled with muscular dystrophy for years and used a wheelchair. The 26-year-old man lived with his mother Ana Ortiz on the seventh floor of the Champlain Towers South.  

His father, also named Luis Bermudez, texted the AP saying 'my son is a hero.' He also wrote on Facebook that he could not believe he's gone.

'Now rest in peace and without any obstacles in heaven,' he wrote. 'I will see you soon my Luiyo.'

Ortiz, 46, had just gotten married with Frankie Kleiman. Alex Garcia, the couple's close friend, told The Miami Herald he had set them up on a blind date. Kleiman lived with his wife and stepson on the same floor as his brother Jay Kleiman, who was in town for a funeral, and their mother Nancy Kress Levin. The Kleimans and their mother are still missing.

50-year-old Frank Kleiman, left, was found on Monday. He was Ana's husband

50-year-old Frank Kleiman, left, was found on Monday. He was Ana's husband

Ortiz was described as a woman who was committed to giving her son the best possible life.

'She´s a rock star. And gorgeous," Garcia told the Herald. "And on top of that a super mom.

FRANK KLEIMAN 

Kleiman, 50, was the husband of Ana Ortiz, whose body was found alongside that of her disabled son, Luiz, over the weekend. 

LEON AND CHRISTINA OLIWKOWICZ

Leon Oliwkowicz and his wife Christina were also identified as victims of the tower collapse on Sunday evening

Leon Oliwkowicz and his wife Christina were also identified as victims of the tower collapse on Sunday evening 

The couple lived on the 8th floor of the condo tower for several years, according to Venezuelan journalist Shirley Varnagy, a close friend of their family.

They were among six Venezuelan natives caught in the building's collapse. Still missing Monday were Moisés Rodán, 28; Andrés Levine, 27; Luis Sadovnik, 28, and his wife, Nicole Langesfeld, Varnagy said.

Varnagy said the Oliwkowicz's daughter had been outside the building waiting for some information about their fate. Her husband answered their phone and asked to be left alone.

The couple's daughter, Mrs. Leah Fouhal, works as a secretary at a Jewish school in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, where the couple donated a Torah in 2019 in a procession that included a vintage fire truck, music and a giant velvet and gold crown, according to COLlive.com, an Orthodox Jewish news outlet that covers Chabad-Lubavitch communities around the world.

Meanwhile, the parents of Rodán, Levine and Sadovnik live in Venezuela and traveled to the U.S. Friday. 'Some did not have a visa, others had an expired passport, but with diplomatic collaboration they were able to arrive,' Varnagy said.  

MICHAEL DAVID ALTMAN

Michael David Altman, 50,

The body of 52-year-old Marcus Joseph Guara was recovered on Saturday

HILDA NORIEGA  

Hilda Noriega (pictured) was named by her family Wednesday as the 12th confirmed victim of the tragedy

Hilda Noriega (pictured) was named by her family Wednesday as the 12th confirmed victim of the tragedy 

Hilda Noriega, who lived in Apt. 602 in the 12-story tower, was the mother of North Bay Village Police Chief Carlos Noriega. 

She had only recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. 

Her body was discovered among the remains of the condo tower Tuesday.

Her family paid tribute to the 'matriarch of the family' in a statement Wednesday.  

Noriega's son had traveled to the collapse site Thursday to look for his mother, who had only recently celebrated her 92nd birthday.

Among the rubble, the police chief found a birthday card a relative had given to Noriega at a brunch, reported Local10. 

Emma Guara, 4, Lucia Guara, 10, Anaely Rodriguez, 42, and Marcus Guara, 52

Emma Guara, 4, Lucia Guara, 10, Anaely Rodriguez, 42, and Marcus Guara, 52

THE GUARA FAMILY

Miami-Dade police identified 10-year-old Lucia Guara and 4-year-old Emma Guara as victims in the condo collapse on Wednesday, June 30.

The remains of their father, Marcus Guara, 52, were pulled from the rubble Saturday and identified Monday. The girls and their mother, Anaely Rodriguez, 42, were recovered Wednesday.

The family lived on the eighth floor of the condo.

DAVID AND BONNIE EPSTEIN 

Bonnie and David Epstein were on the ninth floor when the building gave way. Their son, Jonathan, who lives in New York City said he hasn't been able to contact them.

'I'm trying to be a little optimistic, but I just don't see it,' he told WJXT.

'It just doesn't seem real, you know? Why this building? It doesn't make sense. I don't know. I'm struggling to make sense of it.'

Bonnie and David Epstein were on the ninth floor when the building gave way. Authorities identified David's body on Sunday. His wife was found days earlier

Bonnie and David Epstein were on the ninth floor when the building gave way. Authorities identified David's body on Sunday. His wife was found days earlier

On Sunday, Miami-Dade police identified David, 58, as one of the 24 people known to have perished in the fallen tower. His remains were recovered on Friday. 

Bonnie's body was recovered days earlier. She was 56 years old.

The couple, who worked in real estate investments, moved to Florida to retire early so that they could pursue their love of water sports, according to a friend.

Richard Oller, a friend of the couple, wrote on Facebook that David and Bonnie lived on the ninth floor of the building with their dog.  

GRACIELA CATTAROSSI AND STELLA CATTAROSSI

Seven-year-old Stella Cattarossi's body was found alongside her mother Graciela, 48

Seven-year-old Stella Cattarossi's body was found alongside her mother Graciela, 48

A Miami firefighter was present when the body of his seven-year-old daughter was recovered from the rubble of the Surfside condo catastrophe in Florida.

Officials said the body of Stella Cattarossi was found Tursday, seven days after the collapse of Champlain South Tower which has left 22 confirmed dead and 126 still missing.

Friends posting online said the girl was found sleeping alongside her 48-year-old mother Graciela. Authorities later confirmed that both mother and daughter were found.

They were staying with Graciella's elderly parents, Graciela and Gino Cattarossi, who have not been identified, but are also unaccounted for. 

Stella's father Enrique Arango - a ten-year veteran of the Miami Fire Rescue department - is a member of the rescue team who found the girl and was present when her body was recovered.

He had been on the site with his brother.

Graciela’s sister Andrea, an architect based in Pilar, Argentina, was visiting at the time of the disaster. She is also still missing.  

GONZALO TORRE 

Gonzalo Torre, 81, whose remains were found on Saturday, lived at the condo. 

MARICOY OBIAS-BONNEFOY AND CLAUDIO BONNEFOY 

The bodies of Chilean national Claudio Bonnefo, 85, and his wife Maria 'Maricoy' Obias-Bonnefoy, 69, were identified by authorities.

They were among at least 36 people from Latin American nations that are missing, according to the Miami Herald. The couple were reported missing from Unit #1001.

Maricoy Obias-Bonnefoy, born in the Philippines, reportedly called her niece Irene Obias-Sanchez on the evening of the building collapse to discuss a family get-together planned for that coming Sunday.

The bodies of Chilean national Claudio Bonnefo, 85, and his wife Maria 'Maricoy' Obias-Bonnefoy, 69, were identified by authorities

The bodies of Chilean national Claudio Bonnefo, 85, and his wife Maria 'Maricoy' Obias-Bonnefoy, 69, were identified by authorities

It would have been one their first family gatherings since the pandemic as the Bonnefoys were strict about following lockdown restrictions.

'I could have just texted her back like I often did, but last night it felt different. I knew she wanted to talk about a get-together we were planning on Sunday with my sisters. She was so excited to finally be able to socialize with family after everyone was vaccinated,' Obias-Sanchez said.

Obias-Bonnefoy had immigrated to the US in the 1970s and worked at the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. before moving to retiring and moving to Surfside about 10 years ago, the Miami Herald reported.  

ANDREAS GIANNITSOPOULOS 

Andreas Giannitsopoulos, 21, of Houston was about to start his senior year at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Miami-Dade Police identified him as one of the victims of the June 24 condo collapse in Surfside.

Giannitsopoulos was in Surfside to visit his godfather and his father's best friend, Manuel 'Manny' LaFont.

Andreas Giannitsopoulos, 21, of Houston was about to start his senior year at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Miami-Dade Police identified him as one of the victims of the June 24 condo collapse in Surfside

Andreas Giannitsopoulos, 21, of Houston was about to start his senior year at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Miami-Dade Police identified him as one of the victims of the June 24 condo collapse in Surfside

The 54-year-old, a coach and business consultant, was also identified as one of the victims.

'My brother was honestly like my other half,' 19-year-old Athanasia Giannitsopoulos told The Tennessean.

'He was my best friend as well as my older brother, so he always protected me and he was always there for me no matter what.

'He was the most selfless person I have ever met in my life.' 

TZVI AINSWORTH AND INGRID AINSWORTH 

Tzvi Ainsworth, 68, and his wife, Ingrid Ainsworth, 66, were confirmed to have been killed in the condo collapse on Monday. 

The couple, who moved to Miami from Melbourne, Australia, had an apartment on the 11th floor. 

The Ainsworths, who were well known among Melbourne's small Jewish community, split their time between Florida and Australia. 

The Ainsworths lived in Australia for nearly two decades before returning to South Florida to be near their children. 

The couple had seven children and many live in South Florida, including a daughter who lives just blocks away. 

Tzvi (pictured far left) and Ingrid (pictured far right) Ainsworth, members of the Jewish community from Melbourne, lived in an apartment on the 11th floor of the building. Their remains were identified on Monday, July 5

Tzvi (pictured far left) and Ingrid (pictured far right) Ainsworth, members of the Jewish community from Melbourne, lived in an apartment on the 11th floor of the building. Their remains were identified on Monday, July 5

'Every person she encountered, ever in her life, became her friend. Everyone was treated as equals,' Chana Wasserman wrote in a Mother’s Day blog post to her mother Itty last year. 

'The guy at the laundromat, the guy working at the fruit market... 

Ingrid struggled with chronic pain issues, but didn’t let that darken her mood. 

She tried to focus on the positive, a sunny day, a long car ride that would seem tedious to many she reframed as a chance to talk and catch up, her daughter wrote. 

NANCY LEVIN AND JAY KLEIMAN

Nancy Levin, 76, and her son Jay Kleiman, 52, were among the three victims of the Surfside condo collapsed identified on July 6.

Levin fled the Cuban Revolution with her first husband in 1959, and first settled in Puerto Rico.

Then in the 1980s she moved as a single mother with her two boys to Surfside.

Nancy Levin, 76, was among the three victims of the Surfside condo collapsed identified on Tuesday
Jay Kleiman, 52

Nancy Levin, 76, along with her son Jay Kleiman, 52, were among the three victims of the Surfside condo collapsed identified on Tuesday 

There, they lived in the then-new condo building popular with Hispanic Jews who had come mostly from Cuba.

In Surfside, she became a beloved member of the Shul Jewish community, and was known there as a doting 'abuela,' according to Chabad.org.

She was one of the seven volunteers who served on the condo association board, tasked with with organizing repairs for the building, and she was the only one that perished in the collapse.

Her son, Jay Kleiman moved back to Puerto Rico to work with his father in the garment industry.

He was used to hard times; the business suffered with the financial crisis in the Caribbean territory and Hurricane Maria in 2017. But they pulled through.

He had been visiting his mother in recent weeks for the funeral of an old high school friend who died of the coronavirus. 

FRANICS FERNANDEZ PLACENSIA

Francis Fernandez Plasencia was a 67-year-old a mother of three. 

Plasencia, originally from Cuba, was the mother of three children, Erika, Pablo and Christina, and was spending the night visiting friends Maggie Vazquez-Bello and Rosa Saez, who are still missing. 

Francis Fernandez Placensia, 67, was also one of the three victims identified on July 6

Francis Fernandez Placensia, 67, was also one of the three victims identified on July 6

Placensia left behind three children Pablo (from left) Erika and Christina, whom she was close with

Placensia left behind three children Pablo (from left) Erika and Christina, whom she was close with

She was a parishioner of Coral Gables' Church of the Little Flower, and in her social media presence she appeared to remain close with her children, often celebrating holidays and eating dinner together.  

A Gofundme has been set up to assist her family. 

SIMON SEGAL 

Simon Segal, a structural engineer who devoted his life to ensuring the integrity of buildings, was reported missing from Unit 1203 after the collapse of Champlain Tower South on June 24.

His body was recovered on Tuesday and his identity confirmed on Wednesday.

Engineer Simon Segal, who lived in the Champlain Towers unit 1203, is missing after the collapse
Engineer Simon Segal is shown in this post by his niece, Melissa Goldstein Grosfeld, which reads: Our Uncle Simon Segal In the Champlain Towers unit 1203 is missing after the collapse- Prayers for all the families in this horrific tragedy

The body of engineer Simon Segal, who lived in the Champlain Towers unit 1203, has been identified

Segal, 80, was shown in a social media post by his niece, Melissa Goldstein Grosfeld, which reads: 'Our Uncle Simon Segal In the Champlain Towers unit 1203 is missing after the collapse- Prayers for all the families in this horrific tragedy.'

Miami-Dade Police announced that Segal’s remains were positively identified.

Segal worked as a product control reviewer for the State of Florida. 

GINO AND GRACIELA CATTAROSSI 

Miami-Dade Police announced that they had identified the remains of Graciela Cattarossi, 86, and her husband, Gino Cattarossi, 89.

Their bodies were recovered on Tuesday, July 6.

Graciela worked for the United Nations back in the 1960s, where she represented her home country of Uruguay.

Miami-Dade Police announced that they had identified the remains of Graciela Cattarossi, 86, and her husband, Gino Cattarossi, 89. Their bodies were recovered on July 6

Miami-Dade Police announced that they had identified the remains of Graciela Cattarossi, 86, and her husband, Gino Cattarossi, 89. Their bodies were recovered on July 6 

The couple lived in Apartment 501 with their 48-year-old daughter, an independent lifestyle photographer also named Graciela Cattarossi, and their 7-year-old granddaughter, Estella. All four were missing after the condo collapsed, along with Cattarossi’s sister, Andrea, an architect in Pilar, Argentina, who was visiting

The couple lived in Apartment 501 with their 48-year-old daughter, an independent lifestyle photographer also named Graciela Cattarossi, and their 7-year-old granddaughter, Estella. All four were missing after the condo collapsed, along with Cattarossi’s sister, Andrea, an architect in Pilar, Argentina, who was visiting

All four were missing after the condo collapsed, along with Cattarossi’s sister, Andrea (above), an architect in Pilar, Argentina, who was visiting

All four were missing after the condo collapsed, along with Cattarossi’s sister, Andrea (above), an architect in Pilar, Argentina, who was visiting

The couple lived in Apartment 501 with their 48-year-old daughter, an independent lifestyle photographer also named Graciela Cattarossi, and their 7-year-old granddaughter, Estella.

All four were missing after the condo collapsed, along with Cattarossi’s sister, Andrea, an architect in Pilar, Argentina, who was visiting.

Mariela Porras, a family friend, said Andrea was visiting from South America to help the family as her father was set to undergo surgery.

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