Over 150 residents are missing from a 12 story condo in Miami that collapsed on Thursday, June 24.
Since then, the family of Champlain Towers South residents Arnie and Myriam Notkin, both in their 80s, have been receiving phone calls from the couple's landline that sat on their bedroom nightstand.
Initially, the family didn't know what to think of the calls.
Grandchild of Arnie and Myriam, Jake Samuelson, told WPLG Local 10:
"We were all sitting there in the living room, my whole family, Diane, my mother, and we were just shocked and we kind of thought nothing of it because we answered, and it was static."
The calls from Arnie and Myriam Notkin's phone went to the family's landline. They answered but they only hear static on the other end.
So far, the family has received 16 calls from the line but when the try to call back, it's a busy signal.
Samuelson said:
"We are trying to rationalize what is happening here, we are trying to get answers."
As hundreds of loved ones wait to hear answers about the dozens missing at the Surfside, Florida, condo collapse site, mysterious phone calls from a landline inside the building are complicating the mystery for one family. https://7ny.tv/3gZ0x4b\u00a0pic.twitter.com/y2N8Eq1Y5h— Eyewitness News (@Eyewitness News) 1624821318
This has been difficult for everyone involved. Investigators have not been able to figure out where or how phone calls are coming from a destroyed condo.https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/surfside-condo-collapse-family-says-its-getting-calls-grandparents-landline/TYK7UWAMENH3PLNXJYPETIUHIE/\u00a0\u2026— WSB-TV (@WSB-TV) 1624807800
This is a tragedy that should have never happened. We know the building on the ocean have salt water intrusion from the air alone. The rebar is rusted and no more. The engineers warnings gone unheeded should lead to catastrophic action to ensure.— Thompson for President 2024 (@Thompson for President 2024) 1624805335
The only way this makes sense is if her phone number is programmed in and it keeps getting hit. Either way it\u2019s spooky.https://news.yahoo.com/florida-family-gets-16-calls-154323787.html\u00a0\u2026— Andrea Marie (@Andrea Marie) 1624832685
Many are still holding onto hope as more of the rubble is sifted through with rescue teams and K-9 units.
They can easily pinpoint their location through the phone if they would manage to stay on the long enough— Ray DuPree (@Ray DuPree) 1624831957
I pray for people to be found alive my heart hurts for all the familys this hits to close to home— Ana Per (@Ana Per) 1624772578
North Miami Beach Commissioner Fortuna Smukler, who knew the Notkin's and grew up with the family, said:
"At this point it would be a miracle… we're hoping for a miracle."
Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said:
"The biggest thing now is hope."
"That's what's driving us. It's an extremely difficult situation."
Our thoughts go out to those effected by this tragedy.
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