Miami: The body of pregnant Bhavna Patel, the 36-year-old UK-US dual citizen, her husband Vishal Patel, 42, were found from the wreckage of the apartment building which collapsed near Miami beach, but their baby daughter Aishani remains missing. They were reported missing after the condo collapsed on June 24. Sadly, Bhavna and Vishai have been found dead among the rubble, Miami-Dade police department said.
Six further victims have also been identified: Maria Teresa Rovirosa, 58, Luis Lopez Moreira III, three, Sophia Lopez Moreira, 36, Luis Pettengill, 36, Deborah Berzdivin, 21 and Juan Alberto Mora, 80. In a tweet, Miami cops said: "We have identified eight additional victims who tragically and unexpectedly lost their lives in the Surfside building collapse. Search and rescue efforts have now turned into a recovery mission after a portion of Champlain Towers South collapsed more than two weeks ago. Dozens remain missing following the collapse on June 24.
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez said work was continuing at a “swift tempo.” He said rescue teams are working around the clock to try and bring closure to the families and their number one priority is to recover the victims. Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah told families at a private briefing that the emergency crews would remove the rescue dogs and sound devices, but otherwise would continue to search through the rubble for the bodies of their relatives.
Chief Jadallah said, "Our sole responsibility at this point is to bring closure." Hope of finding survivors was briefly rekindled after workers demolished the remainder of the building, allowing rescuers access to new areas of debris they hoped would contain “voids,” or open pockets with enough room for a person. The remainder of the building was demolished on Sunday last.
No one has been pulled alive from the building since the first few hours after part of the 12-story condo collapsed in the early hours of June 24. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said: "Our Miami-Dade County Task Force 1 members, who’ve been here since the beginning… they could go home, but they are still here."
