MIAMI – Hours after one person was killed and numerous others remained trapped after a condominium building in Surfside partially collapsed, Jackson Memorial Hospital has confirmed they have two patients from the Surfside building collapse.
The tragedy occurred at the Champlain Towers South building near 88th Street and Collins Avenue in Surfside, early Thursday morning.
At around 3 p.m. Jackson Memorial Hospital released the following statement, in part:
“Jackson Health System continues to monitor the ongoing developments of the catastrophic collapse of Champlain Towers South Condo in Surfside. Our Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center medical staff, including trauma surgeons, have been on-site at the scene throughout the day, working in collaboration with MDFR and local officials.”
The statement continues, “We can confirm we have received two patients from the building collapse in Surfside, but don’t have consent to release more information. We will continue to advise should we have other updates.”
Family members, friends, and loved ones who were waiting at the hospital spoke to Local 10 News, Thursday at around noon.
According to loved ones, they personally know people who were affected by the building collapse currently at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and they are waiting on their current conditions.
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At noon, people could be seen standing in a small group outside of the Ryder Trauma Center entrance.
However, a few people in the crowd were not directly impacted by the collapse.
Nearby, a family could be seen speaking with an officer by a North Miami Police vehicle. The family is related to 45-year-old Edgar Gonzalez.
According to his family, they have not been able to contact him, and he is believed to be missing. His wife and teenage daughter are hospitalized inside of the hospital.
Their family told Local 10 News that Gonzalez, his wife, and daughter were all inside of the same condo unit during the collapse. However, it is unclear how they got separated.
Both his wife and daughter are in stable condition.