NewsWLRN — South Florida NPR (Local News)June 25, 2026Miami-Dade
Surfside Marks Five-Year Anniversary of Champlain Towers Collapse
The Surfside community held a vigil to honor the 98 victims of the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse. The event marked five years since the disaster, which led to significant changes in Florida's building inspection and reserve fund laws.
Read the full story at WLRN — South Florida NPR (Local News)Why It Matters
The collapse triggered statewide reforms in Florida condo safety laws, including mandatory inspections and for all high-rise residential buildings.
Key Facts
- The Champlain Towers South building collapsed on June 24, 2021, at 1:15 a.m.
- 98 individuals lost their lives in the collapse.
- Federal investigators identified that two connections between garage columns and the pool deck began failing weeks before the collapse.
- The disaster prompted statewide legislative reforms in Florida regarding condo inspections and financial reserve requirements.
- The site of the former building was purchased by a developer for a planned luxury residential tower.
- A permanent memorial on the site remains a subject of ongoing discussion among families and stakeholders.
Who's Mentioned
locationChamplain Towers South“The condominium building that collapsed in 2021.”personDeven Gonzalez“A survivor of the collapse who spoke at the memorial.”organizationMiami-Dade Fire Rescue“The agency that conducted the search-and-recovery mission.”locationVeterans Park“The site of the memorial vigil.”