SURFSIDE, FLA. (WSVN) – The Town of Surfside commemorated the third anniversary of the Champlain Towers South building collapse, a tragedy that claimed 98 lives on June 24, 2021.
The anniversary began with a torch-lighting ceremony at 1:22 a.m. Monday, where family members were joined by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and other first responders to reflect on the exact moment the building fell. During the ceremony, first responders solemnly read the names of the 98 victims.
“They’re just not names. These are extended family members that we’ve made over the last three years,” said one first responder.
The 98 lives lost that night represented a much larger collapse for hundreds of families and friends, as well as the first responders who dedicated a week to search and recovery efforts. The victims ranged in age from 1 to 92, affecting families globally and drawing rescue crews from around the world. Yet, it was Surfside’s community that bore the deepest scars.
“It’s not just a yearly remembrance, it’s a daily remembrance. And that’s the difference when an incident happens your backyard,” said one first responder at the ceremony. “We’ve begun to heal and I’ll use the word heal because many people are finally walking with smiles. They’re getting up and meeting friends, families, just trying to move on with their lives.”
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, representing Surfside as part of Florida’s 24th Congressional District, released a statement paying tribute to the lives that were lost on that dire day as well as addressing future building safety protocols.
“While many across our nation continue their lives as usual, our community is reminded of the pain of losing loved ones to an unprecedented and tragic incident that Surfside will never forget. In 2021, the condominium collapse claimed 98 lives, and although time passes, the void left in the hearts of countless families and friends remains. June 24, 2021, is a day forever etched in the minds and souls of the entire Surfside community. However, that incident also demonstrated to the world the strength and resilience of our community as we came together. I’m proud to represent Surfside and to see the strength of Surfside firsthand.
Today, everyone at the local, state, and federal levels are dedicated to ensuring such a tragedy never happens again. No one should have to endure the pain that the Surfside community did. This is why I am committed to advocating for higher building safety standards, more robust inspections, and increased oversight in construction across our nation. This commitment extends beyond buildings to encompass all our nation’s infrastructure.
As a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, safety is my top priority. Our buildings, bridges, roads, and everything in between should not be collapsing. So, as we mark three years since the tragedy, my heart is with the Surfside community today and every day. I remain dedicated to amplifying their voices and concerns at the federal level, ensuring that no one has to relive the unspeakable horrors Surfside endured.”
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson
A memorial flyover by Miami-Dade Police Aviation at 9:45 a.m. preluded the main ceremony, accompanied by a special display on the 200 block of 88th Street, near the Surfside Tennis Center and Veteran’s Park.
“Her life and legacy will hopefully live on forever and ever,” said Kevin Spiegel whose wife was killed in the collapse.
A remembrance was held at 10 a.m. on the 100 block of 88th Street, the planned site of the Surfside Memorial. The ceremony was led by Rabbi Yossi Harlig of the Chabad of Kendall and Pinecrest and a Miami-Dade Police chaplain. They said prayers for the victims and their families.
During the ceremony, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, who served as mayor during the 2021 building collapse, also spoke.
“Good morning. It is my privilege to be here today to remember and honor those who were lost in the collapse of the building directly behind me,” Burkett said. “On this night, three years ago, I received that call, which changed all of our lives. As Charles Dickens once wrote in his classic book ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’ ‘It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.’ Clearly we all know to well why it was the worst of times and we’ll never forget the pain and devastation that our families, friends and neighbors were subjected to, much of which remains with us today.”
During his speech, Burkett reflected on the “kindness and compassion” the community embraced to each other following the collapse.
“Despite of the darkness we have all experienced in this world, the collapse’s miracle and love and compassion has reinform for many the goodness and kindness that still exist in our world,” he said.
Martin Langesfeld, who lost his sister in the collapse, also spoke at the ceremony.
“As long days have gone by over the past three years, we kept waiting for the day it would just get a little bit easier,” he said. “Yet we realized, that day would never come. Although our life stopped in a matter of seconds, the world around us continued as if nothing ever happened. And it will not stop just because we are in pain.”
Langesfeld’s words were a reminder that questions continue to be unanswered.
“Why 136 units buildings collapsed in 12 seconds, killing 98 beautiful souls? Who will be held accountable for this negligence?” he said.
Raquel Oliveira was not home at the time of the collapse but her husband and 5-year-old son. She tells 7News that she cherishes every moment she has spent with them.
“While I have them to remember, what I lived was right, I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” she said.
Plans are underway to rebuild a luxury tower on the site, with a memorial to the victims adjacent to it, ensuring that the tragedy is never forgotten. However, the resolution to build has not been universally accepted, as some families feel it does not adequately honor those lost.
“We ask the developer to please work with us in incorporating a memorial on a portion on the site of the collapse,” said Langesfeld.
Federal investigators have pointed to structural integrity issues, including faulty support columns in the tenant garage and pool deck that were reportedly half the strength they should have been, contributed to the collapse. These findings have provided some insight but have not fully answered the many questions still held by the victims’ families.
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