Tulsa Man Devastated After Friends Killed, Cousin Still Missing In Florida Condo Collapse

A Tulsa man is desperate for answers after his cousin was in that condo building that collapsed in Florida two weeks ago.

Andy Portuondo’s cousin is one of nearly 80 people still missing and had friends in the condo who were killed. 

Portuondo said his cousin Maggie Vazquez-Bello had a condo at the building that she went to every once and a while. During the night of the collapse, she and some friends happened to be sleeping there.

"It was devastating to find out, call after call," Portuondo said.

Portuondo said he grew up near Miami and said his entire family and a bunch of friends still live there. He moved to Tulsa about five years ago and visits the Surfside area a couple times a year.

"We have a large family," Portuondo said. "We're Cuban so there's all of us all around."

Portuondo said he heard about the Surfside condo collapse the morning after it happened but didn't realize what building it was until later that day. 

"We had family in the building at the time," said Portuondo. 

Portuondo said he knows about eight people who were in the condos during the collapse. Right now, more than 60 victims have been recovered and crews are still looking for nearly 80 more.

Portuondo said his cousin Maggie had a condo there that she occasionally and she just happened to be staying there that night. 

"She was with a couple friends who had gone to the Van Gogh exhibit on South Beach," Portuondo said.

"We all grew up together as kids, she was like an aunt to me," he said. "Heart of gold. Huge Miami Hurricane fans and love sports. She's a great mother, great grandmother."

Portuondo said some of his friends who were there have been recovered and others made it out alive. He said the devastation is impossible to wrap his head around.

"Every morning you wake up thinking it was just a nightmare," he said. "The whole thing is devastating, the not knowing - the closure isn't there yet."

Portuondo said he is holding on to hope and praying while he waits for answers.  

"The waiting and waiting is heartbreaking," Portuondo said.

Crews shifted from a rescue to a recovery effort Thursday. They say it could take many weeks before they're able to go through all the debris, but they won't stop until everyone is found.