Chicago Resident Confirmed Dead In Surfside Collapse

Chicago IL

09 July, 2021

10:30 AM

Description

SURFSIDE, FL —Miami Dade-County Police confirmed Thursday that searchers had found and identified the body of Juan Mora Jr., a Loyola University Chicago graduate and Chicago resident who had been missing since the collapse of Champlain Towers South Condominium on June 24. Mora is thought to be the first Chicago area resident missing in the rubble to be found dead. Loyola offered its thoughts on social media about Mora, 32, who had graduated from the school's Quinlan School of Business with a minor in Asian Studies. Mora had been staying with his parents, Juan and Ana Mora, in the building, the Chicago Tribune reported. His parents remain missing. "We are devastated to hear that Loyola alumnus, Juan Mora, lost his life in the Surfside condo collapse," Loyola wrote on Twitter. "Juan was a cherished and active member of the Loyola community, and we pray for his family, friends, and colleagues during this extraordinarily difficult time. We are devastated to hear that Loyola alumnus, Juan Mora, lost his life in the Surfside condo collapse. Juan was a cherished and active member of the Loyola community, and we pray for his family, friends, and colleagues during this extraordinarily difficult time. pic.twitter.com/V6eVcDVMqt— Loyola Chicago (@LoyolaChicago) July 9, 2021 According to the Chicago Tribune, Mora worked at Morton Salt's Chicago headquarters as a manager for East Coast distribution of road salt. The company told the Tribune it planned to make a $25,000 donation to the local agency to "assist with relief efforts and support services." Miami police reported that Mora's body was identified along with four others on Thursday. #UPDATE 68: We have identified five additional victims that sadly and unexpectedly lost their lives in the tragic Surfside building collapse. Please keep their families and loved ones in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/QbvdEfQdt2— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) July 8, 2021 As of Friday morning, The Miami Herald reported the death toll in the building collapse was at 64, while 76 remain missing. Once a search-and-rescue mission, the operation in Florida is now classified as a recovery effort. Two other people with Chicago-area ties remain among those missing. Chicago native Richard Augustine, 77, lived in Champlain Towers. Ilan Naibryf was entering his fourth year at the University of Chicago and was studying physics and molecular engineering. He has been reported missing, along with his girlfriend Deborah Berezdivin.