The search for missing residents hits its fourth day as more than 150 souls remain unaccounted for.
As the rescue mission to extract missing residents from under the rubble hits its fourth day, 152 people are still missing.
The death toll has now risen to 9 confirmed Miami-Dade officials during a press briefing on Sunday morning, June 27.
Search teams were able to recover 4 additional bodies along with “additional human remains” in a trench dug into the debris to speed up and facilitate the work of rescuers according to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Authorities released the identities of four more people who died in the collapse, three of whom were found on Saturday. The residents include Leon Oliwkowicz, 80, who lived in unit 704; Luis Bermúdez, 26, who lived on the seventh floor; Ana Ortiz, 46, Bermúdez’s mother; and Christina Beatriz Elvira, 74, who was found on Sunday.
On Saturday night, officials released the identity of three victims: Anthony Lozano, 83, and Gladys Lozano 79, who lived in apartment 903, and Manuel LaFont, 54, from apartment 801.
Police had identified Stacie Fang, 54, who lived in apartment 1002, as the first victim of the collapse on Friday
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has been joined on-site by FEMA to assist in the rescue mission that has been going on 24/7 since Thursday. A search and rescue delegation from the Israeli Defence Forces sent by the Israeli Government earlier this weekend is also at the wreckage to assist the local rescue units.
Mayor Levine Cava also announced that Florida Volunteering had already deployed teams to help coordinate the outpouring of donations made by the Miami-Dade community.
As for what the search and rescue team are focusing on at the moment, their aim remains pretty clear: “We’re pulling residents from under the rubble and supporting the families, these are our only goals right now,” said Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett.
See also: How To Help In The Aftermath Of The Surfside Condo Collapse
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