Florida Building Collapse: Grandson Says He Receives Mysterious Calls From Missing Grandparents' Landline
A grandson of a couple missing following the Florida building collapse said they had received more than a dozen calls from the landline of his grandparents inside the building.
Jake Samuelson told local news outlet WBLG that he was bombarded with at least 16 calls from the number of his missing grandparents, Arnie and Myriam Notkin, who lived in an apartment of Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside near Miami.
Samuelson said that only static and cracking noises could be heard from his mother's house line, with no human voices, ABC 7 reported. He noted that they are trying to rationalize and get answers to what is happening, New York Post reported.
Samuelson said they received the first call on Thursday night, June 24, just hours after the Florida building collapsed.
"We were all sitting in the living room, my whole family, Diane, my mother... And were just shocked. We kind of thought nothing of it because we answered and it was static," Samuelson noted.
The missing grandparents, who remain missing from the Florida building collapse, were reported to be both in their 80s. Samuelson said his grandparents' landline phone rested right next to their bed.
He noted that the last call they received from the missing grandparents' landline phone was Friday night, June 25. At present, the grandson was still waiting an update from the authorities regarding the calls they received.
READ NEXT: Oceanside Condo Partially Collapses in Miami; At Least 1 Dead
Florida Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 9
The 12-story Miami building collapsed suddenly at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, June 24, killing at least nine.
Rescuers continue to conduct search and rescue operations. Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava said there are still 152 individuals unaccounted for as of Sunday, June 27, The Guardian reported.
"As of today (Sunday), one victim has passed away in the hospital and we've recovered eight more victims on-site," said Levine Cava.
Authorities identified the latest four victims as 80-year-old Leon Oliwkowickz, 74-year-old Christina Beatriz Elvira, 26-year-old Anna Ortiz, and 26-year-old Luis Bermudez.
Firefighters had already controlled the fire inside the wreckage that impeded the rescue efforts of the authorities. Because of this, officials said that there's still hope in finding more survivors after the Florida building collapsed.
Levine Cava further noted that they are continuing their efforts in finding survivors. The mayor said they are using canines, cameras, and sonars to locate people who might still be alive after the tragic incident.
Early reports noted that only one was recorded dead as the massive search and rescue operations started.
President Joe Biden on the Florida Building Collapse
President Joe Biden has already offered up federal help to assist in aftermath of the tragic Florida building collapse. He said he was just waiting for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency.
Joe Biden added that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was already instructed to "take a look at what is needed."
READ MORE: Florida Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 5 as Fire, Smoke Impede Search and Rescue Operations
WATCH: Grandson of Couple Missing in Florida Building Collapse Getting Calls - From Yours News
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