After Saying "Honey, the Building Is Shaking," Contact Lost... US Apartment 'Pancake Collapse' Disaster

Among 136 households, 55 households collapsed in a 12-story apartment in Florida, USA.

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] As the death toll from the collapse of a 12-story apartment building in Florida, USA, continues to rise, the stories of missing persons are being introduced one by one, adding to the sorrow.

On the early morning of the 24th (local time), the collapse of the 'Champlain Towers' apartment in Surfside, Florida, resulted in 159 missing persons as of the 25th, whose whereabouts remain unknown. The number of confirmed deaths has reached four.

On this day, foreign media reported the heartbreaking stories of the missing. Stephanie Font, who has been waiting for news of her younger sister's rescue after living in the apartment for six years, said, "My sister was on the phone with her husband around 1:30 a.m. on the 24th, just before the collapse, saying 'the building is shaking,' and then contact was lost." Shortly after, part of the apartment where her sister lived suddenly collapsed. Font said, "I am holding on to hope that my sister is alive, but as time passes, I am losing hope."

At the Champlain Tower South apartment collapse site in Surfside, Florida, USA, rescue teams are searching for survivors through the building debris on the 25th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A 23-year-old woman who worked as a nanny for the wife of the President of Paraguay also suffered a tragedy during her first overseas trip.

Bruno Trepto, a 62-year-old man who had lived in the apartment for 20 years, said, "I was startled awake by the sound of thunder, and when I opened the front door, the apartment hallway and neighbors' homes were gone," adding, "I am saddened that I don't even know the fate of my neighbors."

Meanwhile, rescue authorities are currently focusing all efforts on searching after detecting sounds believed to be from survivors under the rubble. However, families and acquaintances of the missing guarding the site have expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the search.

Mike Selberg, who had five family members including his parents in the building at the time of the collapse, said, "Sufficient measures are not being taken," and appealed, "The families of the missing are being neglected. The rescue authorities claim to have the best personnel, but they lack capability."

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida, where the accident occurred, and instructed the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to spare no support in helping overcome the disaster.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.