12 Floors Gone in Two Seconds - The Surfside Condominium Disaster

[@Kingdom_Of_Dreams]

I remember hearing about a woman in the collapse who was trapped and kept calling out to the rescuers for help, but the rescuers couldn't reach her safely. After a few days, they didn't hear her anymore. It's honestly so horrific to think about being trapped and dying like that.

[@iamsherlocked345]

Yep that gave me chills hearing that… such a horrible way to go even thinking about.. it still bothers me.

[@xquintessential]

I am a relative of the deceased and we believe that to be my cousin. It still sickens me that such gross negligence lead to such an avoidable tragedy. Those who let things slip through the cracks have caused me and my family especially my mothers side insurmountable grief. I pray every day for the souls lost, as well as those who’s remains were not found. Let this be a lesson to those who construct buildings in the future to avoid cutting corners. Rest in peace Tia Angela, Tió Juilo, and my cousin Theresa. May your souls rest peacefully near the ocean and sand.

[@_mmu1e]

@@xquintessential may i ask why you believe she was your cousin? /nm

[@xquintessential]

@@_mmu1e I would prefer not to get into specifics because it is a very touchy subject within the family. However I will say information given strictly to close relatives of the deceased all but confirms it was her.

[@_mmu1e]

@@xquintessential was looking through, and found a video regarding, "the voice in the rubble". it, unfortunately, confirms the woman was your cousin. i give condolence for the losses your family experienced; i hope those grieving may find time to heal. :(

[@ashleighberryman9280]

I lost my grandmother and a great aunt due to the negligence of a construction crew in the same manner. My heart goes out to the families.

[@rogue8903]

Sorry to hear that. Sending my regards🙏🏻. I hope your loved ones are already in a better place.

[@michaello1103]

Take care

[@QWERTY-135]

So how much money did they receive?

[@Mmanifesto22]

It wasn't negligence on the part of the construction crew, but more so the board and association who neglected their building for 40 years. They're maintenance supervisor was warning of water intrusion back in the mid 2000's and there's a report from around as early as 1997 pointing out problems that were left to deteriorate.

[@ashleighberryman9280]

@@Mmanifesto22 I was referring to what happened in my family’s case. As in I know full well what it’s like to lose family to…..a building when things were supposed to be safe. 😞

[@jinh605]

The worst part of this disaster is that those who survived were FORCED to pay mortage for condos that WERE DEMOLISHED. It's utterly dispicable what happened to these people. The fact that no one has faced jail time and these families are still without compensation is such a sad reflection of our country. These rich folks who own property won't change due to fines. We need jail time. These people weren't killed in an accident. They were murdered by negligence.

[@artyomarty391]

No, the worst part of this disaster is that people like you are still trying to find a scapegoat and do more evil than is necessary. Sometimes, there is nobody to blame. If people like you want to throw others in jail, you will have to jail the entire country, including people involved in this accident. Some of the survivors/tenants of this building were active members of the HOA. Do you suppose we jail them too after they lost their loved ones but themselves survived?

[@rodrigochiberio5472]

Crazy much? Scapegoats man? This is the rich negligence and fault

[@kimreimert-reed8860]

Amen!

[@crawlmanjrable]

@@artyomarty391 Truly a smooth brain take. This was preventable. The warning signs were SCREAMING at them. Negligence is still a crime.

[@artyomarty391]

@@crawlmanjrable warning signs are screaming because you have hindsight. Everyone is an expert when they know what had happened

[@kristytorres7919]

I lived only 5 minutes from the disaster and KNEW people in that building. I had a friend that died in the collapse and she was probably one of the nicest people I had met…I can’t even imagine the absolute horror she went through just having your entire apartment just collapse and fall several stories just out of nowhere.

[@iluvcatslol5714]

Sorry for your loss

[@exudeku]

I'm sorry for your loss

[@aalluunaa]

so sorry for your loss :( i hope you have found some healing

[@Mdw2424]

Heartbreaking. 💔

[@Skipbo000]

Rest assured she didn't have time to experience any horror because she was asleep and it happened so quickly.

[@candice_ecidnac]

This is why the saying "Safety regulations are written in blood" exists. *Now* there are tightened regulations for building inspections and construction, but at a massive cost of life. RIP to the victims of the collapse and peace to their families.

[@luism8612]

In way their deaths will save many more lives in the future 😢

[@mick-berry5331]

I wonder if these new inspections will be enough. How many buildings are badly built in the first place and put to more stress by so-called improvements like marble baths, granite countertops or planters ? How about all the high rises in Dubai and vicinity ?

[@matttzzz2]

Listening to this made me want to cry

[@Lovarei]

Id say they were only barely tightened. INSPECTIONS EVERY 10 YEARS GUYS? Nah these tall buildings should literally pass yearly inspections for safety and structural integrity. They only even start looking at the buildings once theyve stood for 25 years. These poor innocent souls deaths were met with "inspections every 10 years"

[@brad4058]

It's really hard to think of every variable that can affect the collapse of a building until it actually happens. It's sad, but humans are not perfect. We can only learn from our mistakes and safety regulations are all a list of mistakes made in the past that we know not to do anymore.

[@abeltrame0000]

0:06 I find it absolutely blood chilling to imagine what people living in the rightmost part of the condominium must have felt like. You're awakened by a horrifying and loud noise so close to your house, the floor is shaking, a small pause of terrifying silence... and then the sensation your whole house tilting sideways... I feel sick just imagining it.

[@Wft-bu5zc]

I thought the same thing. That must have been scary as hell, probably weren't sure if they were having a nightmare or if it was real.

[@jessiehogue.]

@@Wft-bu5zc Pretty sure the screams, shaking and instability of the remaining building part and falling debris noises prevented both the 'terrifying silence' imagined by the OP, and the 'maybe it's just a nightmare' thoughts you are wondering about.

[@MsWengee]

Seeing the bunkbed .. was scary

[@clarenceboddicker6679]

Yes the way that section of the building was swaying from side to side for a few seconds before it tilted over and collapsed must have been absolutely terrifying for those inside.

[@jasonjones7205]

Just the right side? 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@GenocidalFox]

As someone who lives in a 12 story building, this is terrifying. To think that all those people lost their lives in a matter of Twelve seconds, and their final moments where fear and confusion. What a nightmare.

[@kevingarth6682]

That's why I couldn't do it. I work on buildings like that for a living and people who owns buildings like that are so cheap it's scary. Just trying to convince them that they need a new roof is an uphill battle. We looked at one that was so bad that when they refused to even entertain the idea, my boss cut ties with him and called in the city. Sad thing is a lot of contractors would take that job with no issues.

[@sirridesalot6652]

Years ago I read an article that said not to take a room any higher than the fifth floor as that was the maximum height fire truck ladder could reach.

[@wheelie642]

It’s terrifying to think anyone lived in torture for a short time not dying quickly.

[@williamhaynes7089]

@@kevingarth6682 it would be the Owners association made up of 130ish owners in this case you would have been dealing with.

[@daryl9799]

I hope most probably died so quick they didn't even realize what happened it all went down in a blink of a eye.

[@DLCoates1]

The saddest part of this story is not just those who lost their lives right when this happened, but the teen and his mom who were rescued. The fact that she still passed afterwards, that was clearly a mom who knew she wasn’t going to make it but had to survive to see her son survive. Thats a true hero and mother.

[@clearlyweird]

😔😭😭😭

[@prystanski]

Mind over matter...we can overcome the most impossible odds besides like growing wings and flying of course. The first time I realized how true this is as a child was when I read of a German Shepard whod had his head struck in a car crash with his owner, but had held on despite his skull being cracked with his actual brain exposed. A state of physical intense pain no one knew an animal could undergo. But love really helps us get to that mind over matter, and this dog loved his owner like that momma did her son. I feel horrible about this situation tho. Reminds me of the sewol fairy in a way. People knew there were issues, but its almost like they watched as disaster just happened

[@Not_Always]

So she was a hero for not dying before her son was rescued? As if she had control over that?

[@shayla106]

⁠@@Not_AlwaysWe get that you hate brave and strong people. It’s not our fault that you are weak and pathetic. It’s not our fault that you don’t understand love. Get some help for your issue and stop projecting. This mother was a hero.

[@TheHeat205Network]

​@@Not_Always it's a testament to the strong will to live she had.... Gosh you people are miserable.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

As they say: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The conditions that led to this building collapse are eeriely similar to many other building collapse disasters throughout history, and they all have the same contributing factors: Greed and negligence.

[@MrChopsticktech]

Not every disaster is/was caused by greed and/or negligence.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

@@MrChopsticktech Yes, but disasters like these seem to almost always be a result of greed and negligence: People ignoring problems and continuing to make changes to buildings without any thought to the safety of the people living or working there. Disasters like these are all too common in the developing world, but they really have no excuse happening in the United States, the supposed shining city on the hill.

[@Gumbyloomy]

@@MrChopsticktech oh ok, so I guess the building just collapsed randomly for no damn reason ! That solves the mystery

[@lilmoosic]

Follow the money, baybee!!!! Almost always!! If it's not skimping on maintenance, it was skimping on design, materials, etc. etc. Garbage people that deserve what they get after people lose their lives.

[@mattthomas8178]

@@MrChopsticktech Did you skip the part where they're under investigation for bribery

[@Steph-uk9qh]

One of my dear childhood friends lived there and didn’t survive. His Godson was visiting him and decided to stay one extra night with him before flying him. Both perished. My friend had been trying to get me to visit so he could show me the sights of Miami. This hit too close to home. The only solace is to tell myself they died quickly and didn’t know what hit them.

[@biswaranjanpanigrahy98]

😭😭

[@ThunderLightning-ii6lg]

​@tonyfourpaws4511little rude don't you think

[@ThunderLightning-ii6lg]

@tonyfourpaws4511 you forgot already so that doesn't even apply? You won't remember him lol. I guarantee you forgot about him till you saw this here comment. And yes I have.

[@Lightningstrike1220]

Miami's for rich losers anyway. Who cares.

[@_Ioniq__SEL]

My friend's dad, (his name was Manuel Lafont) died in that collapse. My friend and his sister were going to stay at his dad's house (this tower) for the night, but his mom said no. I'm very sure his mom saved both of them by telling them they couldn't stay the night. His father passed away sadly.

[@dstooz]

Omgosh that must have messed with all of their heads.. That's so sad! 😢

[@chadhOneAtl]

The aftermath was even more terrifying as they inspected many other buildings built around the same time and found them to have the same faulty designs all constructed by the same designer and contractor. Unbelievable. This was bound to happen and surf side was simply the place were it did.

[@rogue8903]

Well, then they should have sued whoever was responsible for that faulty construction.

[@wba6787]

@@rogue8903 More like some serious prison time.

[@catcat-tp2sn]

@@wba6787 more like execution. this is worse then a murder and other crimes. these people are off with the money of the dead.

[@venomousfringe]

Elites will do anything to keep numbers down

[@Comrade_Chloe]

@@luiscastaneda5250 Then the people who currently own the properties that are like this and refuse to do repairs should be arrested and barred from ever owning housing like this. Anyone who lets it get to the point of collapse after multiple chances of fixing the issue deserves execution. But they won’t, because our government caters to the wealthy who own buildings like this and will never see consequences equal to their crimes.

[@bug2547]

The last several years I have worked/lived in several high rises just like this and a collapse was always my biggest fear, especially seeing how horrid the conditions of some of these apartments and condos are. Property management and owners do not want to spend the money to repair and maintain these structures and instead just want to sit back and collect rent and condo fees. I live in Canada but I can't imagine it's any better in Florida.

[@Xpwnxage]

Yeah that fucks me up. I'll take a standard ranch house 🏡

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Definitely a reason I'd never live in such a building when the owner/manager is only concerned with rent.

[@nerysghemor5781]

Damn, yeah, I really worry about living in a high rise. I have had enough issues with the builders having cut corners on my single story condo, and imagining that played out on a high rise is terrifying. Thankfully we got new condo association leadership a year or so ago so there is hopefully going to be a more proactive approach to the issues here. AND I have the benefit of renting from a very responsible landlord who will take matters into his own hands to fix problems if they don’t.

[@Chellz801]

It’s bad everywhere, just like you said. And things are not getting better since the owners treat these buildings like a cash grab. We value money over human lives these days, it’s horrible.

[@RunawayTrain2502]

@@Chellz801 Not just these days. Is has always been that way.

[@penelopekitson8060]

At least the mother died knowing her son was safe. Heartbreaking.

[@panda.with.a.pencil]

This still angers me to this day. So much negligence led to this happening. It breaks my heart for all the victims, and it pisses me off that some people on the news were calling this an accident and acting like no one had any idea anything was wrong. Even when this happened, I've seen enough of these videos to know it wasn't just a tragic, unexpected accident.

[@1953childstar]

Those condos were built in an era of "Miami Cocaine trade" and the Mafia needed a means of laundering money, so they turned to building construction. These buildings were designed for "glitz appeal" and the construction was not up to code, the materials were cheap and the price was not cheap ( I think a basic unit was 135K back many years ago ). Over the years, heavy and gaudy "improvements" took place ( Marble and tile floors, heavy bathroom and kitchen fixtures, which weighed as much as up to 6 automobiles per unit ). Walls were removed to give an "open concept" appearance which further weakened the structure.. Building inspectors and politicians were paid off and they "looked the other way"..

[@panda.with.a.pencil]

@@1953childstar Exactly! Between that, construction of nearby buildings, and just...ignoring the fact that the building was clearly falling apart(Let's spend money on making our lobby pretty instead of fixing all these things that are broken!")...it was such a mess. So many contributing factors, so many warnings, and no one in power actually took it seriously until disaster happened.

[@Kaiserboo1871]

@@panda.with.a.pencil I mean the company that owned the condos actually put money down for repairs. I think the blame lies mostly with the people that designed and built it.

[@Cyber-300]

The worst part about it is that either like a few days or the day before the incident happened someone came to inspect the building. I guess they didn’t inspect hard enough…and it costed the life’s of hundreds. I remember hearing when this happened but I thought it was 2022. Time really flies. Take life preciously because just like that it can all go away.

[@cybersilver5816]

What's crazy is that they *were* aware of the issues and were actively trying to fix it. They just didn't realize the extent of the damage until it was way too late, if they had known they wouldn't have prioritized the roof

[@NeroMai]

I remember seeing footage from a resident's home security cam. The bone chilling noises the building made as the walls were slowly caving in before collapse were absolutely horrifying! I can't imagine the amount of panic the victims probably felt being in there. Thankfully the woman who owned that apartment was away at the time.

[@jungkookwillbethedeathofme]

that is so scary. i feel so horrible for all the victims

[@Byoliver10]

At the time, I lived 4 blocks away from the Surfside building. I was in New York when this happened. When I came back, the area was infested by police, paramedics, rescuers, firefighters, etc. It was heartbreaking to know that so many souls weren't able to be saved from the remains. Today, September 2023, the area is just a massive hole.

[@ejkk9513]

Can you imagine how lucky the survivors of the other half of the building must have felt? I would be in a state of shock for quite a while if I was in the half that didn't collapse.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I felt for the people in the last section that fell. It swayed for a few, THEN fell. That must suck.

[@ejkk9513]

@Winds of March Journey/Perry tribute band Yeah, the whole thing is tragic. Once again in American history tragedy was a result of greed and negligence. It never ends. Those people paid good money to live there hoping the management did the bare minimum of making sure the building didn't collapse. It's rare for a building to collapse because of all the fail-safe features built into them. Especially a modern building. This isn't a 200 year old building. That's how negligent they were in maintaining this building.

[@poppyseedbagelll]

i’d move

[@pabloescobarschanclas]

@@poppyseedbagelll they demolished the rest of the building so they all moved.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Yeah, talk about survivor's guilt

[@poutinedream5066]

I was living in an apartment when my entire bedroom ceiling fell down in a couple huge plaster slabs. I was standing in front of a full length mirror that was against the wall. A strip just a couple feet wide was the only part that didn't come down, and that's where I was because I was looking in mirror. In the mirror I saw the ceiling come down behind me with a resounding crash as it broke over the footboard of my sleigh bed. It was so incredibly violent I'm still convinced if it happened at night me or my 2 little girls would have been severely injured or worse. I was immediately blinded as the dust filled the room and rolled down the hall, coating the entire apartment. This was one ceiling of one bedroom, and now, 15 years later, I still find myself inspecting my ceiling at night for any cracks. I truly can't even imagine what it would have been like in that building.

[@Chronically_JBoo]

I keep having nightmares that either my floor or ceiling caves in. The closest I got, was my ceiling fan fell off the ceiling

[@craigjensen6853]

Same with me. My upstairs neighbor's toilet kept overflowing and the water collected in the ceiling. One night I was sleeping and the ceiling gave way and days of toilet water rained down on me. There was a lawsuit, everything worked out. I ended up with free rent for a year and a small consolation prize.

[@raquelharker8428]

@@craigjensen6853- that was a bit of a sh!tty prize, hey?

[@craigjensen6853]

@@raquelharker8428 In retrospect, yes. I was a little younger and more passive. It sounded good to a college student. The new apartment also had a Jacuzzi.

[@SeedlingNL]

Fortunately, plasterboard is very light and fragile, so you will not get seriously injured if one were to fall on you. Maybe a bruise or nosebleed if it fell just right (or wrong), but possible not even that. A good scare and a dusty mess for sure though.

[@BiIlDipperIy]

Man I can't imagine how horrifying it must've been to be in the standing part of the building... Watching the middle section fall and realizing that was what connected you to the other part. By the time anyone realized this they were probably already falling.. Damn. These videos don't usually bother me a whole lot but 98 people, and being such a modern event... This one is pretty damn depressing. Especially seeing all the footage of how the garage and under the pool deck looked. That shit made me cringe looking at it, I wouldn't feel safe standing under that. RIP to the 98 people, and the poor pets that were never recovered :(

[@kazehayaryoji3145]

But Gaza bombing us funded aren't depressing right? Or Iraq invasion by us army?

[@DrewRueDoo]

What is horrifying is that some people survived the collapse. But they died from rescuers not being able to reach them under all the rubble.

[@suzyfarnham3165]

It seems to me Florida needs a "Highrise Collapse Emergency Team" in every city?? This will only get worse as these shoddily built buildingsstart to crumble?

[@SMGJohn]

Tragedy occurs every day, but if it happens to the rich, it aint no tragedy at all

[@wush7985]

@@SMGJohn Who cares about your Communist ideology.

[@SMGJohn]

@@wush7985 No one cares about the rich, your days are numbered.

[@rose1742]

@@SMGJohn children died, animals died, human beings suffered and died, mothers, fathers, grandparents, son and daughters. You’re piece of human garbage.

[@clairepenfold6432]

What makes this even more heartbreaking is that one of the first responders found his own 7 year old daughters body you can only imagine what that must have been like for him

[@gregorypierson4536]

M

[@edt501]

No... I can't 😢

[@7531monkey]

Fake news, he did not find his own daughter. “The firefighter, a member of the team that found his daughter but was not on scene at the time, was notified immediately, officials said.”

[@ripsammy101]

@@7531monkey So the fire fighter was a member of the team that found his daughter. So he found his daughter’s body

[@7531monkey]

@@ripsammy101 he did not find his own daughter he wasnt even on site when she was found, as clearly stated.

[@Relics]

I moved out of the building only just two weeks before it collapse, when I heard the news I was horrified and felt extremely lucky that I moved out when I did. You never know when and what can happen

[@lookforitcx]

Wow thank goodness you moved out. Do you remember seeing any cracks or anything unusual while staying there?

[@stellviahohenheim]

​@@lookforitcxHe didn't answer, he's probably lying

[@xxxangelbreezexxx7821]

@@stellviahohenheimlmao why would they lie about that💀

[@jtuckerstull9378]

That poor boy. Loosing your mom at 12 is beyond cruel.

[@wistyroamlands7495]

Maybe. But the other way around is unimaginable. Holding your child's hand as they die is somehow more soul crushing because (and maybe only because) the majority of parents would prefer their child goes on to be fine and well, even if it costs their own life.

[@asoggyflipflop]

@@wistyroamlands7495 I agree, but I mean it isn’t really a competition. It’s heartbreaking.

[@annnee6818]

​@@wistyroamlands7495 Losing your mom at 12 is hardly better than losing a child. At that age, a parent is everything to you too. But like another comment said, not a competition. But I doubt the boy feels grateful he lived instead of her, just saying

[@lyanneroberts7936]

@@annnee6818 I lost my mum at 11 and I didn’t feel like that

[@xsct878]

losing*

[@ellaeadig263]

I can't stop thinking of the woman who replied "So many people" when the police officer asked if anyone was down there. Did she survive? And imagine lying there, hearing the voices go quieter and quieter around you before you too succumb. What an awful awful way to go.

[@iamsherlocked345]

I was thinking that as well .. knowing those voices will go quiet 🥲

[@xaviersavedra711]

Hearing of the teenager trapped with his mother makes me very sad. They were both in the same situation, even holding hands through it, but his mother dies in the hospital, while he survives. I bet he feels survivors guilt. The same 9,000lbs concrete block was trapping both of them, they were in the same pickle.

[@oliverdyer9155]

i hope that kid manages to find solace in knowing the final thing his mother wanted is for him to survive, recover, and be able to live the rest of his life

[@ColonialDagger]

Additional comment as somebody who had a component in the S&R:-There were many foreign S&R units there, not just the Israeli's. Mexican, Chilean, and Japanese were the most prominent next to the Israeli's, but there were several other countries that participated, including Germany. Miami's own S&R team is also one of the best teams in the world. The reason there are always so many foreign teams in any event such as a building collapse or major earthquake is because those events are so rare that the best way to train them is to send them to every and any possible disaster in order to keep there skills up to fluff.

[@vicgamesvt9682]

I think it's also just good in general to have a coalition like that because if God forbid a disaster were to happen in your country, you would also want all hands on deck.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

"Up to snuff," you mean. I don't know the etymology, on the phrase, tho.

[@Elmithian]

​@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I mean, it could be the saying is like that where they live? Not saying it is, just saying ye might be jumping on conclusions.

[@mickk8519]

The ignorance in your post is off the scale, with other countries teams help to gain experience HAHAHA. They help because they already have the experience, you think nothing happens outside of Miami? The foreign rescue teams have been rescuing and saving lives for a very long time, the actual planet that Miami is only a tiny fraction of is covered in earthquake zones, and conflicts, where those teams cut their teeth.

[@pancakeoperator]

Hey guys, just want to chime in since I was working literally 4 buildings away the week prior. Almost the same style building. Horrid conditions as well, elevator broke, doors opening in between floors. The structure all around had cracks, when this happened I was saddened but not surprised.

[@snafu1542]

Almost like they needed a controled demolition ? This story has so many holes in them .... " a walker-by spotted some fingers and informed resqueres ? Who the fuck is allowed to walk around an active crime/rescuezone ?

[@littlemizredhead]

@@snafu1542 do you also think 9/11 was an inside job?

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

@@snafu1542 We found the ignorant one y'all!

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

@@snafu1542 I'm curious, so I'll bite. What holes? I'm guessing you must be incapable of listening or understanding

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@snafu1542 I'm not sure what your point is. The building collapsed at 1:22 am. It took a few minutes for rescuers to get there. People ran over to help, the area wasn't blocked off until there were enough police there. According to your logic, the World Trade Center and Pentagon collapses didn't have anyone trying to help who weren't official rescuers were trying to help.

[@brendanluke2989]

Your videos are the deep dive of these incidents ive been searching for. The tone of voice, the style of presentation. Golden

[@mechadonia]

I went to highschool with a guy who lost his dad and several other family members on this disaster. Poor kid was destroyed. Hope you’re doing better now Ari :(

[@vespii]

kinda crazy that this might be the only thing isreal has done good for us

[@GaffGiraffe]

​@@vespii As the US has had a rather friendly alliance with Israel for over 75 yrs, your comment has me confused. Unless you confused Israel with another country in that general area of the globe, like Iran, whom we havent had a great history with.

[@IndyandJazmin]

​@Sarah Evans It's always best to leave the tinfoil hat crowd alone and not respond to any of their insanity online, Ms. Evans. There's just no arguing with cray cray, hence it's just best to leave it be (imo & ime/experience, lol). ;)

[@dystopian..]

If you actually want to high school. You’d know it’s two words.

[@svgstarlight]

@@dystopian..dude shut up 😭

[@YueYukii]

After watching the very first 10 seconds i was 100% sure nobody of those apartments would survive. Its a miracle that boy survived and its sad his mother didnt make it in the hospital. Its hard to comprehend how this boy would manage to live on after this.... Its horrible that all these people were just confortable in their rooms, sleeping or resting and then 6 seconds later perished...please always be aware of the conditions of the home you live, such a tragedy can happen to anyone, as this disaster thaught us....even in the wealthiest neighbourhood or cities...

[@mindyschocolate]

I can only hope those that were caught while sleeping didn’t feel a thing.

[@nataliedeshow768]

I’m in a condo but it’s only two floors, I’m on the first floor so I don’t think something like this would ever happen here. At least I hope not.

[@Lizuma]

I’m so happy and grateful to live in a nice house and not an apartment or condo. It wouldn’t feel safe for me otherwise, nor for my valuables. It’s hard to comprehend that something so horrible had happened at all. When I first heard of it, I thought “oh a little piece of a building fell off” just not expecting this kind of horrible, shocking destruction.

[@anhvu-yp9vs]

yes neirbourdhoods

[@n16161]

@@Lizuma so nice that you found a way to use this terrible tragedy to make a comment about yourself and your possessions.

[@jamestheredd]

I lived in Fort Lauderdale at the time and visited the site after the collapse. It was really something to see a building sheared in half and the huge debris pile that I knew was full of people. Very sad.

[@scottmcintyre2809]

The thing that always gets me about that in the video is the one window in the south tower you can see with their light on. Most of the victims thankfully probably never knew what happened, then went to bed and never woke up, or only woke up long enough to groggily wonder what was happening. But there was someone in that south tower up and awake when the central section collapsed who would have had several second of their home swaying back and forth to realize what had happened and how much trouble they were in before they went as well. Terrifying.

[@NullDogma]

It’s fucked up man, as I lay down in bed 12 stories in the air

[@user-tr2dh4xx6u]

its concrete, there is no swaying just instant collapse and death in a few seconds. not that bad of a way to go unless you are trapped alive and slowly succumb.

[@catholicfemininity2126]

Me being Catholic, I'd rather die a slow death so I have a chance to tell Jesus I'm sorry for all the sins I've done and that I love him and Mother Mary. To die without a chance to say that is horrifying to me. I pray all their souls were right with God before it was too late.

[@ranga274]

@@catholicfemininity2126 I hope you get what you wish for in the sweetest way possible in your long, long life. Good wishes.

[@yelhsa._.]

@@catholicfemininity2126 You don't wait until death to say those things..

[@gebruederflausch]

I've seen a documentary about those 3 survivors. It's extremely sad that the boy who survived were having ptsd after. Who wouldn't? I can't imagine the daily horrors he feels just remembering the whole thing + survivor guilt. He can't be near tall buildings and scared with the sound of thunder as it sounds the same when the building collapsed. I also can't imagine the fear of pets who were buried alive.

[@iamsherlocked345]

The whole situation was heartbreaking … I’m someone who is empathetic and seeing the footage was so disturbing.

[@Blue8embers-2012]

Do you remember the name of the documentary?

[@apriljohnson421]

That boy who survived, but lost his mother. He kept trying to tell the rescuers that she was also in there, and at first, they could not find her. Then she did not make it. How awful…

[@bradsanders407]

Worries about the "pets" while eating chicken nuggets.

[@urbainleverrier1]

@@bradsanders407 hells yes mister sanders pets are cute chickens aren't

[@marcus3567]

It's still horrifying to remember the breaking news reports of this event. I can't imagine how the people who lived through this and the families of the deceased must have felt. For me, this was such negligence and almost 100 people paid dearly because of it.

[@marcus3567]

@@animula6908 then you have no idea what occurred so let me break it down for you. This was negligence because even in the video they said there was a report that there were cracks in the infrastructure and it needed repairs especially on the roof because it was deteriorating, underneath the pool deck had cracks and was leaking water. And that there were shoddy errors in constructing the building to begin with. That to me speaks negligence because these are things that could have been fixed. So your whole "spiritual" bullshit means nothing.

[@Alaryicjude]

You're right on, Marcus. It's 100% negligence and anyone saying otherwise is simply not able to face the facts in the very video they're commenting on. I don't know how I would cope if I had known someone who passed away that night myself either.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

@@animula6908 The building was literally deteriorating and wasn't kept up like it's supposed to be.

[@DesignByKirk]

you can't have 8 billion people in the world without some shit going wrong and killing a bunch of them once in a while. Just the law of large numbers ... while, of course, it is sad, it is expected. Ideally, we'd get to a point where this kind of carelessness happens less but ... if it's not one thing, it's another.

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@animula6908 I have followed the case since it happened. There are at least two KZbin channels that constantly gave updates. Jeff Ostroff is the best and has great resources (such as original and updated blueprints, and NIST's latest info). It wasn't one agency 'pointing a finger', it was several, and numerous businesses, developers, structural engineers were involved. Nobody hands out over a billion dollars without having evidence.

[@michaelapena4067]

I can't believe it's going to be two years in June. I remember this like yesterday, it was horrifying. Imagine your entire house collapsing and crushing you to death and there's no time to escape or even say the words 'I love you' to the people you care about

[@Daemonarch2k6]

This is so heartbreaking. All these victims. the losses, the traumatized first responders. Such a tragedy!

[@AK474000]

I can't imagine what it would have been to be the small few who survived it. I can't imagine the families whos lives were changed. I can't imagine how futile the task must have been to upend tons and tons of material in the hope to save people trapped underneath only finding corpse after corpse. For what is is worth, my condolences to everyone harmed by this.

[@meh_lady]

There’s an interview with a family that went through it, very sad and powerful at the same time. It’s on the CBS channel and came up as the first video when I searched for “Survivors Champlain Towers.” it’s heavy, but definitely worth watching.

[@Kyle_Lurz]

Imagine being the one where the rescues workers heard screaming for hours but never found her

[@randomnobody8770]

My palms are sweating just thinking about how on-edge the rescue workers and trapped survivors must have been feeling while on-site. You have no idea if the whole thing is gonna collapse at any moment. You have no idea whether moving large debris will cause further collapse, squishing the terrified people right in your view.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

There as one girl who arrived to be a nanny literally just a few hours before. She didn't make it. Just a few hours.

[@The93Vector]

Imagine being someone in the outside section that took a couple seconds to fall over. It was over so fast for the people in the middle section, they probably didn’t even wake up. But the people in the outside section had a couple seconds to be thrown awake by a terrifying roar, and then have the ceiling of their bedroom come down on top of them.

[@Ghtherich]

My Dad is an Engineer and he has so much work now-a-days with Condo owners in Florida after this. He has to fight them daily in meetings to make repairs to everything. He now references this to the owners daily because they do not want to pay for it. My dad often says that the reason why it happened was because the owner's of the units probably saw the amount they had to pay and decided it wasn't necessary right now and just prolonged the repairs.

[@ejtamayo5317]

I'm a resident of Miami, Florida, and when I saw the news story, I couldn't believe it. South Florida has never experienced such a disaster. It still haunts me to this day

[@BrenMurphy1]

Can't believe I watch this to help me fall asleep 💤

[@AllergicFungus]

Florida sucks. Sinkholes, gators, snakes that can swallow you whole... Hurricanes... Building collapsing... No thanks

[@AndyThomasStaff]

I agree, it truly is terrible that people choose to live in Florida

[@stefthorman8548]

@@AndyThomasStaff what?

[@firesideshats]

@@AndyThomasStaff that's pretty funny man lol

[@jonathantaylor6926]

The condo tried to issue a “special assessment” to raise funds for repairs but the owners voted it down. These condos all need a long term escrow account from the day they are built for maintenance decades in the future.. the HOA fees aren’t enough for major repairs I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often.. I can understand how people don’t have $80,000 laying for a special assessment though.

[@Project2013B]

The joys of condo living. I lived in a 52 unit townhouse complex, and all the garage doors had to be replaced for $700 just because ONE door had rusted, and they wanted the doors to 'look the same'

[@grmpEqweer]

@@Project2013B Jeez...sand and paint the one rusted door, you'd think...

[@mbryson2899]

@BOB K Only on TV.

[@johnl.7754]

@BOB K $$$$ was not the issue here since in rich Oceanside neighborhood

[@somehaloguy9372]

@BOB K it is. For the people who have money

[@peppersgone5044]

My cousin had a friend who lived here and she had to be hospitalized but ended up surviving along with her mom. Her dad sadly did not survive . Absolutely heartbreaking 💔

[@travelerforever8849]

I remember a little girl and her 2 guardians died in this building. They came around 8 pm to stay overnight as the girl wanted to play at the beach. The apartment belongs to a friend who let them stayed for the night. Such tragic story. I am sure the friend felt the guilt but its not his fault.

[@PatchworkRose567]

I remember seeing this all play out practically live. Everyone I talked to during that time were focused on how long it took to recover everyone and how it was one of the scariest unintentional structural failures they had ever seen. I remember people accusing the city’s mayor and local authorities of being too slow to save everyone. Looking back, the authorities did everything possible to try and safety retrieve the victims but the odds were stacked against them.

[@pink_alchemist]

I remember that, too. You see people in peril and a big part of you screams to help them, but we also don't really know how dangerous that situation was as general citizens. I remember watching them "seemingly" doing nothing to look for people for days, and it hurts your heart, but they were doing what was safest for the rescue teams. Doesn't make it easy to accept, though. This was such a horrible and sad event.

[@NyanyiC]

I still think many more lives could have have been saved though

[@Krystalmyth]

'The odds were stacked against them.'

[@dillkosher5116]

@@Krystalmythno pun intended

[@AguaWaters]

surfside is pretty tight area and small to get around and basically on an island... i worked there everyday during 2020... the weather didnt help either, honestly ive seen so many things here in FL this didn't surprise me i just thought it was crazy nd glad i wasnt driving anywhere near when it fell as i used to drive past it AT LEAST twice a day everyday when i worked there.. prayers to all the families and people affected. HOPEFULLY THEY TAKE CARE OF THESE BUILDINGS IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND PEOPLE WILL LEARN A DAMN LESSON CUZ PEOPLE USE THESE FACILITIES EVERYDAY, LETS NOT FORGET WE HAD A BRIDGE COLLAPSE NOT TOO LONG AGO. OTHER STATES NOT LIKE THIS FR!

[@patrickvelazquez3419]

Knew someone who tragically died due to the incompetence of the building owners, I wasn’t close to them but to their sibling and it’s been very hard and devastating, just gone in their sleep, they had just graduated a few years prior and their sibling is still studying and seems to be doing better. They’re resilient the whole family is, I had never seen what it looked like to loose a child or a sibling. The world seems to keep on moving and you’re left feeling incompetent because moving along with the rest of the world feels like giving up, failing them somehow, I found this out later from a different experience. To end this emotional recounting there’s a song (100% endurance by yard act) that really helped me change my pain to awe, stopping myself from becoming bitter with reality, so, we don’t have to live in pain, you are worthy of a good happy life, you’re worth anything you want to be.

[@jewellchastain4244]

I have a deep respect for all the rescue workers,my dads a Firefighter so I know all the hard work they put in,I also have to give some love for the dogs that helped.❤️

[@seanwhatshisname1831]

Them unqualified rescue workers wasnt worth the lipstick that wss painted on them..didnt find no bodies til israilies came to help THIS STORY ON SOME BULLSHIT PEOPLE WASNT TALKING ABOUT NO PETS THEY KNEW THEM RESCUE WORKERS COULDNT FIND THEIR RELATIVES

[@xquintessential]

As somebody who had relatives die in this tragedy it has not really hit me yet but thank him for all he did trying to save the lives of the innocent.

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

I’m from Miami, I remember this vividly. It was all anyone could talk about. My uncle said that place was a time bomb. Just for reference, my grandfather was an engineer who constructed several buildings in Miami Dade in the 50s and 60s that still stand today.

[@MaseraSteve]

Even every building in worldwide made after 2008 all are time bomb, Unless you’re funding and supervise it from 0. There’s plenty of greedy developers/contractors who wants to squeeze every pennies. In my observation in asia, most property will have their roof leaking only after 3/5 years and the wall starts to crack around the same year.. I witnessed this 10 acre “modern mansion” being built from ground up in borneo, they got this weak concrete brick that’ll crumble easily(might explain the crack in wall). It’s wall are also uneven, ugh! Plus cheap lighter woods without any anti termite coating. Wtf! this all reminded me of Hollywood prop house that they’ll made for an explosion scene... No backyard, cramped front parking space surge/grounding protection all you can get for whopping $200,000 whoa! Imagine that type of construction for 12th story building.. It’s a nightmare! (Wait wasn’t there’s viral video from china like 10 years ago too?!) my theory is other country catching up to this dirty tricks real quick..

[@jjk2one]

@@MaseraSteve The public water treatment plants have gone down this same road. People would not believe what has been done, all the while raising utilities in the name of green energy.

[@MaseraSteve]

@@jjk2one WHA?!?! Never heard of it before, This is the 1st world level city facility we’re talking about?! This is insane I’ll research it out thanks

[@JBlooey]

I remember watching the footage the day after it happened. Seeing people turn their lights on, seeing those lights flicker out as the building started to collapse, it all overwhelmed me. Those lights going out were the last things those poor people saw.

[@adendeleon2181]

This is nothing but heartbreaking. I live in Miami, and I remember driving by the collapsed building with my friends and smelling the stench of rotting a few blocks away. We shouldn’t forget that everyday we live is a blessing

[@Not_Always]

That wouldn't have been because of the building. Most of those bodies were obliterated with the weight of the building crushing them. There weren't just rotting corpses.

[@mamat1213]

@@Not_Alwaysso it was an explosion then? They were vaporized? Organic matter will decompose no matter how small it is. The rubble also isn’t air tight… As an experiment, smash a thin layer of raw bloody ground beef or chicken on your floor, cover it and wait to see what happens next😢

[@sonymicronin]

@@Not_Alwaysthat changes nothing

[@Not_Always]

@mamat1213 smashing a piece of ground beef isn't the same as what happened to those people. I wouldn't have the same amount of force as weight as what landed on those people. Sure organic matter has to decompose, but a large part of what causes that smell is the gases that are breaking down large chunks of organs and what not. If you are effectively smashed with sich force that your body explodes, there isn't much in the way of trapped gases to cause that stench.

[@oliverdyer9155]

@@Not_Alwaystrue, but blood also rots. i’ve personally smelled a soaked floorboard after a week in the summer and it was RANK. i do think a majority of the smell would just be attributed to the spills (busted ACs, a buildings worth of broken cleaning supplies, broken water and sewage lines, etc) rather the remains of the deceased

[@joecool4656]

In response to this, my college in Ohio inspected it’s parking garages which were slated to be replaced the next year. I’m not sure what they found but it must have been bad because they immediately closed and destroyed them. Now there are two parking lots replacing them. It honestly pisses me off that something was wrong and they only realized it or did something about it then. Those lots endured considerable loading with cars and snow

[@craigjensen6853]

40 years life is TOPS here in the midwest on those things. They should start planning for replacement when they turn 20. A lot of them were built in the '70s and are now ticking time bombs. Even ones from the '90s have shown alarming deterioration. They are also horrible places to be during earthquakes or EV fires. An EV fire could theoretically structurally compromise a post-tensioned garage structure causing progressive collapse like CTS. And likely whatever building it was connected to would end up in the conflagration. It's really an unmitigated risk of huge proportions that we need to figure out. Sprinkler systems won't touch them; imagine an entire garage of cars on fire and deck after deck collapsing to feed cars into it. Then put the garage beneath or next to a massive structure like a casino. I can't imagine it would be good.

[@joecool4656]

@@craigjensen6853 I would imagine a sprinkler system would help suppress the heat from the fire as the water evaporates but they are definitely super violent fires

[@Mamasita4life32]

Sadly it seems like that’s how things are. We wait till something bad happens before we take action, and by then the damage is already done. 😢

[@jane_doughnut]

Are you talking about YSU?

[@craigjensen6853]

@@joecool4656 Yes, certainly, but I'm thinking 20 years into the future when, perhaps, the majority of vehicles in the garage are EVs and there's a runaway event. You've seen massive 1M+ sf warehouse fires recently that were no match for the sprinkler systems and those fires were theoretically suppressible with water. Battery fires are not. You would need 24" risers to have any sort of impact on a garage-wide EV fire. But that scenario is very likely. It could even be an ICE vehicle catching fire (like happens all the time) in a garage of EVs. We really don't have a solution to this yet. Nor has there been extensive testing. It needs to happen. Sadly it will probably take an event for AHJs to realize the danger.

[@QueenSunstar]

One must remember the land in that area is reclaimed wetland, and hurricanes do batter the area frequently. That plus the clear corner cutting, I’m surprised the building stood for as long as it did.

[@thekeiraclementine]

I read about the young lad who survived. The trauma is horrible even just to think about. He doesn’t want this to define him and it doesn’t. I hope he is somewhere enjoying his passions, hobbies, and loved ones. It’s a big, beautiful world and there is so much joy in store for him.

[@sunshoe-l5r]

its a terrible, shit ass world out there what are you talking about. this society is nothing but a plague and the people that run it are the scum of the universe.

[@Chronically_JBoo]

He broke 12 vertebrae

[@Angelenowithacamera]

I hope he becomes an activist. God bless him.

[@helenawarsinnak]

I remember seeing this on the news....I can't even imagine what the residents of this building were thinking... feeling....it just must have been pure confusion, horror, and sadness...when u are at home, u are supposed to feel and be safe and secure....and that evening most of these ppl who were home thought that!! They were getting ready for bed or just sitting bk relaxing for the evening.... NEVER thinking something like this was about to happen to them😢.... my heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to all of those people and pets who lost their lives, to all of their families and to all of those who were hurt in this devastation that SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!! 😡

[@brucelindahl9814]

Same here. That has to hit really hard.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

To think this could've been prevented too :(

[@killinglonliness88]

Thankfully, it was about 4am when the collapse happened, so I like to believe that almost all if not all of the people and the animals that were lost (since we didn't get a toll on how many animals were lost) were sleeping peacefully and didn't know what happened. Twelve seconds is quite quick, so I like to believe they were sleeping and then they were gone and didn't have time to know what was happening or have any fear or pain. It's the smallest comfort we can take from it, but it is better than no comfort.

[@helenawarsinnak]

@@killinglonliness88 Yes!! That DEFINITELY makes it a little more comforting to think!! Like u said, at 4am, most ppl and animals would have been sleeping and hopefully NEVER had the chance to wake up to experience any pain, fear or suffering...I never looked at it like that, and honestly I'd much rather think of it that way ....thank u sweetie💜🙏😢

[@helenawarsinnak]

@Yann Parks guess we will never know the answer to thatI do wonder at times, why does God let these horrible tragedies happen to people, regardless if they're good or bad?? I guess we will never know the answer to that question... But I definitely don't think the people/animals that passed away were all bad... I'm sure there were a few that were not the greatest...But God has a plan for all of us, and when it is our time to go, unfortunately, that is our time...we always have to remember that: "Tomorrow is NEVER Promised"

[@BriaBri]

I live on a college campus in a building that has 16 floors. I cannot begin to imagine the horror of feeling the floor underneath me fall…

[@Alaryicjude]

I remember not too long after the condo collapsed I saw a video of an interior security camera that basically watched the whole damn thing go down. I don't remember what floor it was on or any other details like that. I remember you start seeing debris falling, then streaming, then pouring down and not long after the debris starts pouring the frame starts going sideways and it goes black. You're watching it from someone's living room... It's so eerie and kind of hard to watch bc you know even if someone's not in the condo being recorded other people and their pets are in the building, but you see all the debris and hear the building moan and shudder before everything goes.

[@trancerobot]

If you carefully watch the walls in that video - or quickly scan back and forth - you can see them bending. This is most visible between the door and the kitchen. My guess is... by that point, that door frame isn't square, and it will be jammed shut. If you're there long enough to witness that, you probably aren't leaving. It's haunting to think about.

[@idjilju2835]

I know exactly which video you were thinking of! If you listen closely you can hear the rebar literally moaning as the building collapses

[@subadanus6310]

the first frame of it shows a normal room, and then the second frame shows after the camera was motion activated and the entire room is tilted like it was sheared in photoshop, the whole building was letting go and you can watch the pillar in the center tilt more and more until the entire collapse begins

[@nlwilson4892]

Building Integrity channel did loads of videos on this doing a technical analysis, they showed that video and analyzed it bit by bit.

[@noahstarck9739]

What is the video called? I’m curious

[@kassiliaperry5706]

I know it's not really the normal thing you do but can you please do a video covering the disastrous winter storm that hit texas in 2021. The whole thing was terrible from the power grid failing and people freezing to death in their homes, to people suffocating in their garages trying to stay warm in their cars, to the pileup on i-35 that claimed at least 6 lives and injured dozens more!

[@tammybagwell1741]

I was thinking "why didn't I hear about this" oh yeah we were dealing with our freeze.

[@kassiliaperry5706]

@@tammybagwell1741 it was terrible we were lucky and never lost power but we didn't have water for 5 days

[@LamaMama26]

Yes it was scary and the state was not prepared to help us. All the awnings collapsed in my apartment complex. My mom's car crashed into a tree. It was insane.

[@CCGarland]

When this happened, it was so surreal. Thinking that this can happen in a first-world country is mind boggling, and it still perplexes me as to how this could happen. Rest in peace to the victims.

[@oliviawatts2605]

I think this is the first time that I actually know about this disaster and followed it when it happened. Absolutely devastating.

[@vebnew]

I have a deep respect for all of the rescue workers.....

[@princessofatoaster5441]

Gosh, its insane to me that was over two years ago now. I remember it like it happened yesterday, it was front page news for weeks. My heart goes out to everyone and their families who were lost. ❤

[@russia4biden221]

Take your clout chasing prayers and shove them

[@Angelenowithacamera]

Have they finished trying to find the real reason for this? Neglect of course but I would like to hear an official report.

[@AaronShenghao]

This is a wake up call, for not only the U.S. but also to all developed countries. Things like this can still happen to the so-called "first world". Inspectors, developers, contractors and others should ask themselves "Will I be willing to let my loved ones and myst live in this building I'm working on?"

[@MissUofH]

I’ve watched so many engineers discuss this event since it happened…I found myself crying for those people they couldn’t rescue and the people trying their hardest to get em out!

[@assidreflex9718]

As a Floridian resident, thank you for covering this horrible tragedy.

[@irenetorkel2186]

Seeing people out in the hot sunny day makes me feel that much colder. I remember watching videos about this disaster. Those poor people trapped inside. Scary to imagine what everyone in the area experienced. It’s scary to think of all the buildings in similar states of disrepair that are accidents waiting to happen.

[@NetTubeUser]

98 people lost their lives that day. What a horrible way to go. Can you imagine being in that building and seeing everything around you move and fall, and you don't even have time to react or think? Then, the next moment, the ground collapses under your feet, and you fall several meters high, then you are crushed by huge concrete blocks. It's absolutely terrifying! Poor people. It's tragic. We have no idea how terrifying, brutal and painful it was.

[@crowdemon_archives]

The ones who were crushed and killed immediately were the fortunate ones. Imagine those who were still conscious after being crushed.

[@NetTubeUser]

​@@crowdemon_archives Honestly, I can't imagine. There are no words to describe what these people were thinking and enduring for hours under the rubble. Horrific! Poor people and animals! It gives me chills down my spine when I think about it.

[@PungiFungi]

A miracle that it’s only 98. How many units were there and how many people lived in that building?

[@xsarah791x]

@@PungiFungi I wouldn't call that a miracle. "Only 98" is still a lot of deaths for 12 floors, it's not like it was a 50 story building.

[@Old.Man.Of.The.Mountain]

Just imagine what the residents of Istanbul, Turkey are currently going through anticipating a soon to happen earthquake 😟

[@teasingclown7894]

I remember listening to the Miami-Dade fire department scanner and I'll never forget the Engine 76 commander saying "I see many people on the balcony's, there's... the building is gone, no elevators, this is nothing, it almost resembles the trade center. " then "This is going to be an MCI level 4...5...6." Absolutely chilling.

[@vahvahdisco]

I live in the U.K. and have followed this story relentlessly from the outset and the subsequent work on finding out the cause. I don’t know anyone personally from there but it was such a tragic disaster that I feel very close to how those who have lost everything, must feel. I have lived in a tower block myself but never really felt safe there. I’m now in a ground floor apartment (due to disability) and feel much safer.

[@kruszer]

I remember reading about how one of the deceased was a Montreal student who was visiting a friend in Florida for the first time. A trip that had been delayed by COVID. She was spending her first night in that building after having traveled there from Canada earlier in that day. Of all the terrible odds, to travel so long and far just to meet an appointment with death.

[@Not_Always]

The friends went to Florida together, to visit the father of one of them. They both lived in Montreal. All died, including the girl's father.

[@Halloween111]

The Building was at it's max load back in '81. All the re modeling that took place in the interim included a lot of Stone work and much heavier amenities. That's not so bad in one unit, but spread that throughout the whole place and you can see how it could get seriously overloaded. Add shoddy workmanship and lax maintenance and you get a falling building.

[@sarahr9894]

I remember when this happened, and for days I was checking Twitter hourly for updates to see if they had rescued any more survivors from the rubble 😔

[@Joypyf]

Thank you for updating on this story. Unimaginable terror those poor people must have gone through

[@RihannaOverdose]

I am a Miami native and let’s not forget the under construction bridge that collapsed near the college and killed all those people. RIP to everyone.

[@Nauru_Man]

I live in Surfside right next to the Community center. I remember being unable to sleep that night due to the noise of the sirens from the emergency vehicles heading that way on Harding Avenue. I also remember seeing the police drive the survivors from the remaining section of the building to the community center. I was so confused that night, and I only found out of the collapse the following morning.

[@markgentry6688]

The bottom line considering what our country has become today, greed is a never ending evil.

[@TawanaEvangeline]

It’s always so unfortunate that these disasters don’t occur during a workday instead of middle of the night. More people might’ve been at work and school 😣

[@ty_thatmfguy]

True enough , but at that time of the night , maybe the additional weight of everyone who was there probably had an impact too.

[@brunocp87]

​@@ty_thatmfguy this is like saying some ants on your back would make you collapse. A much stronger force is the thermic constriction of the metal rebars due to the drop in temperature at night

[@EthanIzeta]

@@ty_thatmfguy no

[@Maranville]

That's one reason why no one was hurt in the devastating fire at Avalon at Edgewater in New Jersey. It was at 4 in the afternoon.

[@Mustang6971]

There was one disaster that hit two towers with a bunch of people at work, on Tuesday September 11th 2001, but it’s so weird how all of the collapses happen when they they most occupied.

[@valeriel7249]

Sadly, I knew someone who perished in this disaster. She and her son were actually pulled out alive, but she did not survive. I believe her son survived. So terribly tragic!!

[@Mel-rj3tj]

🙏 for that little boy. Do you know how he is doing now? To be a survivor while others died is a blessing by God.

[@betgazal]

feels like u just took the story

[@lauram3729]

Our family friend passed the collapse. She was on the phone with her husband as it happened. She said something was wrong, and then he heard the collapse before the phone went silent

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

I hadn't heard of this one :( how horrible!!! I can't imagine being asleep in my bed only to have an entire building collapse on me. Shame on whoever neglected this building and allowed it to get to this point. RIP to the 98 people who lost their lives. I wonder how that boy is doing, the one who survived but lost his mother? :( I can't imagine the anger, grief and confusion everyone involved must be feeling. I'm glad for the new law about condos.

[@mommachupacabra]

"Building Integrity" and "Jeff Ostroff" both went over the whole thing for months, architectural designs, the video into the garage, all the details. Worth watching all of their YT videos for more thoughts on what happened and why.

[@bakarangerpinku]

They knew there was a sinkhole, but they don’t get active usually so no actions were taken. That’s why they demoed the other standing building. It’s a shame nobody follows anything closely. Everything is a cover-up. There were lots of survivors, but they only really rescued one boy and another person. After listening to similar building collapse tragedies in the past, I recognize they DEFINITELY didn’t do all they could in Miami. In the past, people would have dug them out by hand, not caring, if something happened to themselves, as a rescue worker. Back then, they knew time was of the essence if you wanted to save anybody alive…

[@Adam-vj7dn]

@@bakarangerpinku human life is cheap when you can easily just import more surfs

[@AyeCarumba221]

You had never heard about this???? Do you ever read a newspaper? It was in the mews straight for about 6 weeks, and then still discussed for 1 1/2 years!

[@Anakinno501]

@@AyeCarumba221 Maybe she doesn't live in the states. Also, who reads newspapers anymore???

[@victoriab637]

I live in a apartment building, ever since this happened it's been one of my worst fears. RIP to all the lives lost.

[@AwokenEntertainment]

so scary to think you could be at home watching a video like this one moment.. and then the next.. BOOM

[@TC-zi2yp]

I recall seeing a documentary about this last year. There was a suspicious column shown on the engineers drawings that wasn't placed in the correct location causing the weight above not properly being dispersed throughout the columns the whole way down.

[@williamhaynes7089]

the construction errors are not somthing you can file suit on 40 years later as the statue of limitions ran out 20+ years ago..

[@vicgamesvt9682]

@William Haynes I mean that's fair but they should have still built another coloum none the less.

[@williamhaynes7089]

@Vicgames Vt it lasted 40 years so it couldn't have been all that critical. Maybe after adding weight to building in tile, granite, etc it exceeded its abilities

[@loveionshanpriale749]

I was vacationing in Miami on Collins Ave but left Miami hours before the collapse. I remember driving by Surfside and seeing people that resided there just living life, without a care in the world. It was crazy getting the news about the collapse when I arrived home. The area was beautiful and the building looked great to me. I was jealous of the people that had the chance to live there. Little did I know, the building was in bad shape. R.I.P. to the residents of Surfside.

[@neogator26]

I followed the unfolding of this event from day one with the KZbinr that has a civil engineering channel. I know a significant amount about the engineering that causes the backgrounds and the things that led up to the collapse as best hold up to a year after. You did a fantastic job covering the top level issues in this video.

[@Knirin]

I strongly recommend Building Integrity’s playlist about this disaster.

[@AllysonCapati]

i remember hearing about this. i was checking the news constantly because it’s something that i haven’t heard happening here in miami. i passed by the site after demolition, and it was a surreal scene. i had friends who knew people there, but thankfully they weren’t present. some cycling friends of mine are firefighters and were there, it’s very hard to look back on this sometimes. very sad. many buildings around us after this were deemed “unsafe” and evacuated. terrible how this happened because of negligence

[@platinumstar8953]

My dad worked in the building next door. It's so scary to imagine that it could've been him. I'm glad he's still with us, but I send my love to all those affected. This never should have happened

[@sumame47]

I remember when I worked in a 50-story bldg in downtown Seattle, and my location was on the 20th floor. I'd go out by the windows and feel the building swaying in the wind. My biggest fear was the bldg collapsing in the wind. I can't imagine waking up to thunderous noise and then everything being gone. Those higher-ups who knew there were problems but failed to act quickly, should be held accountable.

[@mhobson2009]

Back in the mid-1980's, I worked for a landscape maintenance company that had that building for a client. Trimming hedges, mowing lawns, fixing sprinkler systems, etc. Never thought something like this disaster might happen.

[@mikaross4671]

Only 3 people were rescued?? This is beyond heart breaking... RIP to those poor souls. I cant imagine just dying like that. Most of them were probably asleep or woken up by the first building collapse before the second happened.

[@tmcd6902]

Large buildings scare me for this exact reason. rip to all the lives lost, beloved pets included. :(

[@SneakiestChameleon]

This incident taught me never to live in a condo more than 2 stories high.

[@Rudolph1722]

They're often built very fast.

[@BL-yj2wp]

Usually structual integrity isn't an issue, just look at the old Soviet apartment blocks in Ukraine that can take missile stirkes just fine.

[@williamhaynes7089]

Or of you do, participate in the asssociation and vote 'YES' to repairs

[@CoMorbiditty]

To think all they had to do when the first report came in was to empty the pool, and discontinue it's use. This may have saved a lot of the corrosive effects of the structure

[@janna-renee]

Such horrifying news. I can't imagine the terror felt by the people who experienced it, and anguish of the rescuers did what they could.

[@LOLZpersonok]

I remember following this on the news, even though I live in the Great White North. I remember how hot my chest felt when watching, because I remember how only a few years ago, a similar disaster was narrowly avoided in my local city. There was an apartment tower, with 7 floors that had been built in 1969. I remember driving by the tower and noticing how all the balconies out front were crooked, and eventually the tower got evacuated in the middle of the night because it was deemed that it was at risk of imminent collapse. The building was stabilized, residents collected their belongings, and eventually it was torn down safely, but it was really scary how close that neighbourhood had come to disaster. The building was located in a very dense and busy area, and was very close to many other buildings, so one could only wonder how extensive the destruction would have been.

[@chairmanofrussia]

What city was this?

[@LOLZpersonok]

@@chairmanofrussia it was in Calgary, Canada. The building in question is Kensington Manor. It’s long gone, the land it was on is just a vacant lot now, and searching for the tower online only brings up stories about that tower’s debacle.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I saw one place and the balcony fell off the building. Not sure if before or after inspection for sale. But I would have been all over it after that if I were buying. Not uncommon in snow states, tho.

[@lilypadrockers]

I remember this so clearly. My grandmother lived literally one block from this building. We had to move her into another facility ASAP for fear of another collapse happening.

[@akterminded]

I lived in surfside when the tower fell. It sounded like an explosion when it came down with some shouts and then silence.... then the sirens and everything followed... My wife and I walked to see what happened and we thought at first someone bombed the building down... but when it came to light as to why this happened, it made me so angry that these "slumlords" let this building fall into decay and just kept hoarding the money

[@dinascharnhorst6590]

It never fails to astonish me to think it's disasters such as this which must occur in order for legislation to be drafted and passed to ensure the safety of others in the future.

[@xymonvillapando9129]

Rules are written in blood, they say.

[@williamhaynes7089]

In this case, the 'residents' were the owners and they have no special rules different than a single family home... As an owner you should have repairs done in a timey manor

[@dinascharnhorst6590]

@@williamhaynes7089 Eh, perhaps, but I live in a condo--just not a multiple-story building like this was. While we are responsible for repairs in our side of the building, the HOA covers the rest: the sidewalks, the driveways, the grounds. Considering this was in effect a high-rise apartment building and the problems were originated in the garage and pool areas, that would fall under the milieu of the HOA, wouldn't it?

[@williamhaynes7089]

@@dinascharnhorst6590 Yes it does... But the Condo association is the unit owners... In this case the board had an inspection does (as noted in video) 2 years before colapse.. The board and the owners were still fighting over paying for it or not more than a year later and just started the repairs.. Starting withe the ROOF? anyways

[@williamhaynes7089]

@@dinascharnhorst6590 The hoa in this case is a Condo association... And as a unit owner you have 1 vote.

[@inserteunnombreapropiado9079]

I live in a city near beside the ocean, and I can totally say that sea salt is no joke: that can chew through even the strongest of materials for years.

[@williebeamish5879]

How do vehicles fare? Do you have to run them through car washes frequently? Just curious, as I live way up north and the road salt eats cars away slowly, but surely.

[@inserteunnombreapropiado9079]

@@williebeamish5879 here stainless steel rust as fast as normal steel. That's how fast sea salt can corrode everything.

[@taliaa-444]

I remember driving past there after the aftermath and I could not believe my eyes. It’s unfortunate that it happened and I feel for all the survivors and families of the deceased. The sight was horrid and I can’t imagine how those who had to live their last moments through it all. I have so much respect for the first-responders and I knew they worked very hard to find the missing people and save them, but unfortunately not all could be saved due to all the debris and stuff packed on the victims.

[@iamsherlocked345]

The silence is something I can’t imagine… I also have a lot of respect for the first responders in such a horrible situation.