In the early morning hours of June 24, a large section of a 40-year-old, 12-storey condo building in Surfside, Fla. (a small town near Miami Beach) collapsed. As of this writing, there are five confirmed deaths and more than 150 unaccounted for. The area has been characterized as “an ultra-Orthodox enclave,” and more than two-dozen of the victims are thought to be Jewish. Rescue efforts are continuing, but the passage of time, rain, and fires within the rubble are dampening hopes that anyone will be found alive.
UPDATE: As of July 8, the confirmed death toll has risen to 60 with 80 people still missing. Sadly, the search effort has moved from being a rescue operation to being a recovery operation.
Quote: “An online fundraiser launched by The Shul of Bal Harbour, located a mile north of the collapsed building, had raised $240,000 from more than 2,000 donors within hours. That synagogue and another nearby Chabad also put out calls for toiletries, blankets and toys that could be distributed to survivors. Meanwhile, kosher restaurants in the area distributed food to first responders and to those who were displaced from the portion of the building that had not collapsed.”
Sources: The Jerusalem Post
Read “Florida Jewish community hit hard by condo building collapse” ►
Read “Jewish communities mobilize in response to building collapse in Florida” ►
Read “Israel sends support to victims of condo collapse” ►
Read “Mexican and Israeli Task Forces Join Search For Survivors in Surfside Building Collapse” ►
Photo: Fox 13 Tampa Bay
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