Surfside Building Collapse

Since the collapse, the state has enacted reforms to make condo buildings safer. But Rep. Vicki Lopez said people looking to buy a condo should probably hold off for a while.

Monday marks the third anniversary of the collapse of the Champlain Towers condo building in Surfside that killed 98 people. WLRN speaks to a local engineer who had warned the condo association about structural weaknesses and to victims' relatives who are still awaiting answers.

A federal team continues to focus on construction flaws in the pool deck as it investigates the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla. in 2021 which killed 98 people.

Town commissioners voted 3 to 2 in favor of conditionally requiring the developer of the former Champlain Towers South property to move the loading dock away from the memorial space.

Most of the intensive work on such things as concrete core samples, corrosion in reinforcing bars and evidence of subpar construction in the 40-year-old building will be done by next spring, followed by a final report and recommendations by June 2025.

Investigators reported signs of corrosion, misplaced reinforcement and the placement of heavier and additional plant containers than those in the original plans.

The Florida Building Commission says there is no reason they see to treat coastal and inland buildings differently. That was a key idea behind the post-Surfside law that passed in 2022.

They include toll credits for frequent drivers and measures to combat the rising cost of property insurance.

Residents of the 14-story building were forced to evacuate Thursday evening after officials determined the structure was unsafe and gave orders to leave.

Hundreds of claims on the more than $1 billion settlement from the Champlain Towers South litigation have been tossed out as phony.

A year ago, the Champlain Towers South condominium collapsed in Surfside. Many first responders who searched for weeks to find victims are still struggling with what they saw, smelled and heard.

For his father and others, the rescue brings to mind the Old Testament tale of the prophet Jonah.