Miami-Dade officials have recovered and identified rising junior Deborah Berezdivin among those who lost their lives in the Florida condo building that collapsed more than two weeks ago.
In a tweet from the Miami-Dade Police Department, officials reported that they recovered eight bodies, including Berezdivin’s, between July 7 and 8. Of the 78 victims that have been confirmed, 47 of them have been identified and next of kin have been notified.
A post from GW for Israel Friday called Berezdivin “a beloved friend and classmate” who had “deep connections” to her Jewish culture and faith.
“Deb transferred to GW just this past year, yet she leaves such a profound impact on our community,” the post states.
The post states the GWI community takes comfort in knowing that she is somewhere “smiling” as they continue to celebrate their culture and passions.
In a press conference, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the search and rescue team continued their efforts throughout last night and today. She said the recovery is moving forward with “great urgency.”
“We work 24 hours a day on the pile to recover victims and bring closure to all of the families still waiting,” Cava said. “We want to bring them news as quickly as we possibly can.”
She said 200 people are accounted for, with 62 people potentially unaccounted for. She added officials are continuously auditing the list of victims to gather accurate information.
“There is a gaping hole in the center of this community in Surfside,” Cava said.
A spokesperson for the town of Surfside did not immediately return a request for comment.
Zachary Blackburn contributed reporting.