WEATHER ALERT
Feds delay release of report into the cause of 2021 Surfside building collapse
Read full article: Feds delay release of report into the cause of 2021 Surfside building collapseFederal investigators of the building collapse that killed 98 people in Surfside announced they expect to release their report in 2026, not next year as planned.
Fort Lauderdale police HQ faces uncertainty as concerning crack jeopardizes $100M project
Read full article: Fort Lauderdale police HQ faces uncertainty as concerning crack jeopardizes $100M projectLast week, a crack was discovered at the new $100 million Fort Lauderdale police headquarters. Now, the plan to fix it is in jeopardy.
Investigators say tenant garage below collapsed Florida condo tower had many faulty support columns
Read full article: Investigators say tenant garage below collapsed Florida condo tower had many faulty support columnsFederal investigators determining why a Florida condominium tower partially collapsed three years ago have determined there were many faulty support columns in the tenant garage that ran below it and the adjoining pool deck.
Surfside commission approves development plan for site of deadly condo collapse
Read full article: Surfside commission approves development plan for site of deadly condo collapseSurfside commissioners voted overnight to approve a developer’s plan to place a loading zone and trash dumpsters along an area that is designated for a memorial park for the victims of the Champlain Towers tragedy.
Probe of Surfside condo collapse to be completed by June 2025, US investigators say
Read full article: Probe of Surfside condo collapse to be completed by June 2025, US investigators sayThe probe into the Surfside condominium collapse that killed 98 people should be completed by the fourth anniversary of the disaster, federal officials said Thursday.
Surfside commissioners meet as Champlain Towers South memorial discussions continue
Read full article: Surfside commissioners meet as Champlain Towers South memorial discussions continueIn the footprint of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, where 98 souls lost their lives when a portion of the condominium building suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night, are stories of lives cut short and of families shattered.
Surfside community gathers to mark 2-year anniversary of tower collapse that killed 98 people
Read full article: Surfside community gathers to mark 2-year anniversary of tower collapse that killed 98 peopleSaturday marks two years since the Champlain Towers South collapsed in Surfside, killing 98 people.
Surfside building collapse: New findings concern everyone in town, mayor says
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: New findings concern everyone in town, mayor saysThe federal investigators who are looking into the cause of the Champlain Towers South collapse released a preliminary report on Thursday that could have implications for another building. '
Pool deck at collapsed Florida condo building failed to comply with codes, standards, officials say
Read full article: Pool deck at collapsed Florida condo building failed to comply with codes, standards, officials sayFederal investigators say the swimming pool deck of a beachfront South Florida condominium that collapsed two years ago, killing 98 people, failed to comply with original building codes and standards.
Surfside building collapse: Investigators find pool deck showed ‘severe strength deficiency’
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: Investigators find pool deck showed ‘severe strength deficiency’The federal investigators who are looking into the cause of the 2021 Surfside building collapse released a preliminary report on Thursday.
Surfside building collapse: Federal investigators say they are moving closer to getting ‘critical data’
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: Federal investigators say they are moving closer to getting ‘critical data’Federal investigators who are searching for answers about what caused the 12-story Champlain Towers South building to collapse — killing 98 people on June 24, 2021, in Surfside — recently took over a second larger warehouse to store evidence.
Federal team investigating Surfside building collapse completes site testing
Read full article: Federal team investigating Surfside building collapse completes site testingThe federal team investigating the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside announced Thursday that they have completed testing at the site and collected data to evaluate the potential causes.
Developers, family discuss memorial for collapse victims
Read full article: Developers, family discuss memorial for collapse victimsDevelopers and city officials are pushing back on family members’ expectations for a memorial for 98 people who died last year when a beachfront Florida condominium building collapsed.
Judge awards $70M to attorneys in $1B Surfside condo collapse settlement
Read full article: Judge awards $70M to attorneys in $1B Surfside condo collapse settlementA Miami-Dade judge has awarded more than $70 million to the more than 130 attorneys and staff who aided in class-action litigation related to the Surfside condominium collapse.
Judge invalidates bogus claims in Surfside building collapse
Read full article: Judge invalidates bogus claims in Surfside building collapseHundreds of bogus claims that sought a share of the $1.1 billion settlement in the deadly collapse of a Florida condominium building were ruled as fraudulent and invalid by a judge Wednesday.
Sign for ‘98 Points of Light Way’ goes up in honor of Surfside condo collapse victims
Read full article: Sign for ‘98 Points of Light Way’ goes up in honor of Surfside condo collapse victimsThe Town of Surfside held a gathering Thursday for the official unveiling of 98 Points of Light Way on Collins Avenue in honor of the 98 victims killed in last year’s Champlain Towers South collapse.
At Surfside, one woman says her friend who perished sent her a sign
Read full article: At Surfside, one woman says her friend who perished sent her a signShe found a feather at the site of the Champlain Towers South as she came to pay her respects one year later. Sharon Abadi said she knew it was from her friend.
Surfside building collapse: Survivor says her escape was like ‘Mission Impossible’
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: Survivor says her escape was like ‘Mission Impossible’Ileana Monteagudo escaped with her life during the Surfside building collapse. She saw a crack snake down her wall and ran. She rushed down the stairs in her nightgown.
Special exhibit honors victims, heroes of Champlain Towers South
Read full article: Special exhibit honors victims, heroes of Champlain Towers SouthTo commemorate the one year anniversary of the tragic collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers South, Swampspace Gallery will be hosting a special art exhibition.
‘Still having nightmares’: Surfside building collapse left lasting trauma
Read full article: ‘Still having nightmares’: Surfside building collapse left lasting traumaFor a man who is grieving the loss of his mother and grandmother, the first anniversary of the Champlain Towers South collapse on June 24, 2021, in Surfside will be a somber day of reflection.
Condo owners meet to figure out how to comply with new law for reserves
Read full article: Condo owners meet to figure out how to comply with new law for reservesThe anniversary of the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside is approaching. The federal investigation into what caused the tragedy is ongoing. Condominium communities are trying to understand a new state law that requires a reserve fund for repairs.
Florida building collapse probe to begin structural testing
Read full article: Florida building collapse probe to begin structural testingThe federal investigation into the deadly collapse of a Florida beachfront condominium building is entering a new phase that involves cutting and drilling into concrete and steel to determine what role they played.
Attorneys in Surfside condo collapse seek about $100M in fees
Read full article: Attorneys in Surfside condo collapse seek about $100M in feesAttorneys who worked to secure settlements topping $1 billion in the collapse of a beachfront Florida condominium building in which 98 people died are requesting about $100 million in fees and costs.
This Week in South Florida: Martin Langesfeld
Read full article: This Week in South Florida: Martin LangesfeldThe same week a new condo reform law was passed in Florida, a judge in the complicated class action legal case finalized a billion-dollar settlement for families of those who died in Champlain Towers South.
Judge gives initial OK to $1B deal in Florida condo collapse
Read full article: Judge gives initial OK to $1B deal in Florida condo collapseA Florida judge has given gave initial approval to a settlement of more than $1 billion to families who lost loved ones in the collapse last year of a Florida beachfront condominium building in which 98 people died.
Florida condo collapse settlement reached, tops $1 billion
Read full article: Florida condo collapse settlement reached, tops $1 billionAttorneys for the families who lost relatives or homes in last year’s collapse of a Florida condominium tower that killed 98 people have reached a $1.02 billion settlement.
Surfside building collapse: Judge agrees to increase property loss payment
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: Judge agrees to increase property loss paymentCircuit Judge Michael Hanzman agreed to increase the settlement of the Champlain Towers South property owners who did not suffer a loss of life from $83 million to $96 million — out of the $120 million sale — on Tuesday in Miami-Dade.
Dubai developer to buy Florida condo collapse site for $120M
Read full article: Dubai developer to buy Florida condo collapse site for $120MA billionaire developer from Dubai is set to purchase the site of a South Florida condominium that collapsed last June, killing 98 people, for $120 million after no other bids were submitted by the Friday evening deadline for next week’s auction.
Judge to decide how to allocate billion dollar settlement for Surfside condo collapse victims
Read full article: Judge to decide how to allocate billion dollar settlement for Surfside condo collapse victimsThe process of putting values on the lives of the 98 people lost in the Champlain Towers South collapse is underway, as the Miami Dade Circuit Judge overseeing the $1 billion settlement decides how to divide it.
Surfside families still want answers despite settlement
Read full article: Surfside families still want answers despite settlementFamily members of some of the 98 people killed in a Florida condominium collapse last June say they are too deep in mourning to contemplate the nearly $1 billion settlement their attorneys negotiated on their behalf.
Victims of Surfside collapse honored with new memorial
Read full article: Victims of Surfside collapse honored with new memorialIn honor of the 98 souls that lost their lives during the tragic Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside on June 24, 2021, the town will be installing new signage around the CTS site commemorating the names of those departed on Thursday.
Lawyers: Nearly $1B tentative settlement in condo collapse
Read full article: Lawyers: Nearly $1B tentative settlement in condo collapseLawyers representing families of victims and survivors of the condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, last June have told a judge that they've reached a nearly $1 billion tentative settlement.
Judge OKs $83M for property loss in Florida condo collapse
Read full article: Judge OKs $83M for property loss in Florida condo collapsePeople who owned units in a Florida oceanfront condominium building that collapsed last year will divide $83 million for property losses, with the compensation for families over the 98 deaths still to be determined.
Report: Miami-Dade County employee to blame for deleted audio files related to Surfside building collapse
Read full article: Report: Miami-Dade County employee to blame for deleted audio files related to Surfside building collapseA USA Today investigation revealed that a Miami-Dade County employee deleted critical audio files related to last year’s condominium collapse in Surfside.
Florida legislators focus on condominium building safety, abortion
Read full article: Florida legislators focus on condominium building safety, abortionThe Champlain Towers South tragedy in Surfside prompted Florida lawmakers to move forward with legislation Thursday to tighten inspection requirements for condominiums.
Surfside commissioners discuss helping with cost of collapse site inspection
Read full article: Surfside commissioners discuss helping with cost of collapse site inspectionSurfside officials are holding a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss contributing to the cost of a court-authorized group inspection of the Champlain Towers South disaster.
Surfside 6 months later: ‘We are healing. ... We’re getting better.’
Read full article: Surfside 6 months later: ‘We are healing. ... We’re getting better.’Six months after the Champlain Towers South collapsed, loved ones and members of the community continue to honor the victims’ memories as they await a permanent memorial.
South Florida is one of the most generous areas in the country, GoFundMe says
Read full article: South Florida is one of the most generous areas in the country, GoFundMe saysMiami and Fort Lauderdale were among the most giving cities in the United States this year, according to the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.
Surfside: Lawsuit alleges that new construction next door contributed to collapse
Read full article: Surfside: Lawsuit alleges that new construction next door contributed to collapseA class action lawsuit has been filed against the developers of new construction next door to Champlain Towers South, where 98 people died after the condo collapsed in June.
Engineers call for more inspections after Surfside condo collapse
Read full article: Engineers call for more inspections after Surfside condo collapseThe state of Florida should consider requiring high-rise buildings near the coast to undergo safety inspections every 20 years, according to a coalition of engineers and architects that formed after a Miami-area condominium collapsed in June, killing 98 people.
Recovered items will be returned to Surfside condo collapse victims
Read full article: Recovered items will be returned to Surfside condo collapse victimsPersonal property recovered from the destroyed units of a South Florida condo building that collapsed will be divided into two categories: soft items and hard items.
Judge approves sale of oceanside property in Surfside where building collapsed killing 98
Read full article: Judge approves sale of oceanside property in Surfside where building collapsed killing 98Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman approved on Thursday a sale agreement of the property in Surfside where a 12-story building collapsed on June 24 killing 98 people.
Surfside families call for memorial at site of condo collapse
Read full article: Surfside families call for memorial at site of condo collapseRepeating that “we do not build over dead bodies,” family members of Surfside condo collapse victims pleaded Thursday for a memorial to be placed at the site where the Champlain Towers South once stood — not new construction.
Could rezoning hurt Surfside survivors financially?
Read full article: Could rezoning hurt Surfside survivors financially?Rezoning cuts the property size — now just short of two acres — and reduces the number of units. With that, former Champlain Towers South condo residents fear their financial return on the eventual sale of the land may be limited.
Officials start to consider ways to prevent another deadly building collapse in Miami-Dade County
Read full article: Officials start to consider ways to prevent another deadly building collapse in Miami-Dade CountyMore than two months after the June 24 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Miami-Dade County officials are still reviewing options to prevent another tragedy from happening again.
NIST establishes team of experts to investigate cause of Surfside building collapse, releases video of evidence gathered
Read full article: NIST establishes team of experts to investigate cause of Surfside building collapse, releases video of evidence gatheredThe National Institute of Standards and Technology held a news conference Wednesday morning to discuss its investigation into the June 24 partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building.
Potential buyer looking to purchase Surfside building collapse land for up to $120 million
Read full article: Potential buyer looking to purchase Surfside building collapse land for up to $120 millionThe town has already received an offer on the property, but what the future holds for this land is in limbo.
What will happen to Surfside memorial wall? Officials try to figure that out.
Read full article: What will happen to Surfside memorial wall? Officials try to figure that out.Just west of the collapsed Champlain Towers South condo the memorial wall started with a few pictures and flowers and expanded into a blocks-long tribute to the 98 victims killed in the tragedy.
Surfside security guard describes climbing through rubble to escape building collapse
Read full article: Surfside security guard describes climbing through rubble to escape building collapseThe security guard working at the Champlain Towers South building the night the condo collapsed described the tense moments to Local 10 News' Rosh Lowe.
Bodycam footage shows initial Surfside condo collapse response
Read full article: Bodycam footage shows initial Surfside condo collapse responseBodyworn camera footage shows Surfside police officers arriving at the scene of the Champlain Towers South condo collapse in the early morning hours of June 24.
Firefighter who worked for nearly a month at Surfside building collapse is suffering and needs help, attorney says
Read full article: Firefighter who worked for nearly a month at Surfside building collapse is suffering and needs help, attorney saysA 47-year-old veteran firefighter who worked at the site of the Surfside building collapse that killed 98 people is suffering and needs help, his attorney said late Friday night.
Feud between mayors: Surfside pushes for access to site of building collapse; Miami-Dade keeps denying it
Read full article: Feud between mayors: Surfside pushes for access to site of building collapse; Miami-Dade keeps denying itRecent letters between Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett show there has been tension behind the scenes in the aftermath of the June 24th building collapse that killed 98 people.
This Week in South Florida: Joseph Zahralban
Read full article: This Week in South Florida: Joseph ZahralbanIt was some of the most difficult work every for those people who do profoundly difficult work for a living, recovering those who were lost in a matter of minutes as Surfside's Champlain Towers South collapsed last month.
Surfside condo collapse: NY attorney who recently moved to penthouse is one of last to be identified
Read full article: Surfside condo collapse: NY attorney who recently moved to penthouse is one of last to be identifiedIt was the photo that became the picture that showed the tragedy of the building collapse at Surfside. Linda March rented Penthouse 4 after moving from New York only months before.
Now that rubble is gone from Champlain Towers site, emptiness sets in for Surfside mayor
Read full article: Now that rubble is gone from Champlain Towers site, emptiness sets in for Surfside mayorThere's now just emptiness where the Champlain Towers South once stood and the mayor of Surfside is feeling the magnitude.
Judge: $150M initially for victims in Surfside condo collapse
Read full article: Judge: $150M initially for victims in Surfside condo collapseA judge says victims and families who suffered losses in the collapse of a 12-story oceanfront Florida condominium will get a minimum of $150 million in compensation initially.
Some Surfside residents want new condo built at collapse site
Read full article: Some Surfside residents want new condo built at collapse siteSeveral condo owners stood before a Miami-Dade circuit court judge to convince him to let a developer construct a new building on the site of the Champlain Towers South because they want to keep living on the oceanfront in Surfside.
Surfside condo collapse: Video shows federal probe in action
Read full article: Surfside condo collapse: Video shows federal probe in actionThe footage shows portions of the building preserved and tagged for evidence by engineers with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which investigates building failures.
Surfside in court: Still no consensus on future of site
Read full article: Surfside in court: Still no consensus on future of siteThe hearing before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman included attorneys representing all parties related to the Surfside collapse, including those who survived the tragedy, families of victims who were killed as well as others whose property was destroyed in the disaster.
Officials: Hacker stole identities of multiple victims killed in Surfside condo collapse
Read full article: Officials: Hacker stole identities of multiple victims killed in Surfside condo collapseDisturbing reports are emerging of a hacker taking advantage of those who were killed in the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside.
Judge: All options on table for site of collapsed building
Read full article: Judge: All options on table for site of collapsed buildingA South Florida judge says all options remain on the table as a decision is made over what to do with the property where a 12-story condominium tower collapsed last month.
Couple changed travel plans to Uruguay before dying in Surfside building collapse
Read full article: Couple changed travel plans to Uruguay before dying in Surfside building collapseBernardo Camou Font and his sister María Inés Camou Font said a change of travel plans caused their 64-year-old sister to die. She was scheduled to return to Montevideo, Uruguay before a section of the 12-story Champlain Towers South collapsed in Miami-Dade County’s town of Surfside.
Surfside building collapse: Victims’ relatives react to judge allowing process to sell property
Read full article: Surfside building collapse: Victims’ relatives react to judge allowing process to sell propertyThe search and recovery operation continues Wednesday at the site of the former 12-story Champlain Towers South in Miami-Dade County’s town of Surfside.
Police release some recordings of 911 calls after Surfside building collapse
Read full article: Police release some recordings of 911 calls after Surfside building collapseThe search and recovery operation continues Wednesday at the site of the former 12-story Champlain Towers South in Miami-Dade County’s town of Surfside.
Judge approves sale of site of Surfside condo collapse
Read full article: Judge approves sale of site of Surfside condo collapseMiami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman ordered that the process begin to sell the site of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which could fetch $100 million, according to court records.
Death toll in Surfside condo collapse rises to 97, one more victim identified
Read full article: Death toll in Surfside condo collapse rises to 97, one more victim identifiedCrews have recovered the body of one more person in Surfside, bringing the death toll from the Champlain Towers South collapse to 96.
Casket of nanny killed in condo collapse returns to Paraguay
Read full article: Casket of nanny killed in condo collapse returns to ParaguayThe remains of a young Paraguayan nanny among those killed in the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside has arrived home, her casket wrapped in a national flag and with a photograph of her young face.
Heavy rain causes flooding in usual areas of Miami Beach, forcing some businesses to temporarily close
Read full article: Heavy rain causes flooding in usual areas of Miami Beach, forcing some businesses to temporarily closeSeveral inches of standing water was seen near South Beach and further north in Surfside, where recovery efforts are ongoing at the site of the Champlain Towers South collapse.
Expert hired to investigate Champlain Towers South collapse studying north tower first, testing concrete and steel
Read full article: Expert hired to investigate Champlain Towers South collapse studying north tower first, testing concrete and steelExperienced structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer of KCE Structural Engineers was called upon to investigate the World Trade Center attack and the Oklahoma City bombing.
Collapsed condo: Weighing how to honor dead at ‘holy site’
Read full article: Collapsed condo: Weighing how to honor dead at ‘holy site’Even as crews are continuing their search for the last remaining souls that perished in the collapse of condominium town in Surfside, Florida, questions are swirling across the community about what to do with the property.