Surfside: Federal report confirms deadly collapse began three weeks earlier, with 98 dead

Almost five years after one of the worst tragedies in recent US history, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published this June 22, 2026 its final technical findings on the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida. The central conclusion, reported by CBS Evening News and local media: the building began to fail three weeks before the catastrophic collapse on June 24, 2021, when two connections between the garage columns and the pool slab gave way. 98 people died.

What the June 2026 NIST report says

NIST's National Construction Safety Team (NCST) concluded that the partial collapse began in early June 2021, not at the time of the visible collapse. Two column-slab connections under the pool deck suffered a punching shear failure: the reinforced concrete slab cracked and gave way around the support columns, weakening the structural bond.

Over the next three weeks, according to NBC 6 and the NIST statement, the cracks grew and the loads redistributed in the pool slab to other slab-column connections that did not have enough margin to support them — due to the building's original design and construction, compounded by decades of deterioration.

Co-principal investigator Judith Mitrani-Reiser explained that when a building meets codes with adequate clearances, it should support much more weight than anticipated. At Champlain Towers South, those margins were too narrow from the origin.

How the collapse occurred on June 24, 2021

The Champlain Towers South was a 12-story plus penthouse condominium with 136 units, at 8777 Collins Avenue, beachfront in Surfside (Miami-Dade County), north of Miami Beach. Built in 1981, it had an underground garage, a swimming pool on the ground floor and an L-shaped structure.

According to the official reconstruction and surveillance videos cited by Wikipedia and NIST:

1. ~1:14 a.m. — Partial collapse of the pool deck slab between the south end and the tower
2. ~1:22 a.m. — Progressive collapse of the central section and east wing; less than 12 seconds
3. At least half of the units were destroyed; the rest of the building was controlled demolished on July 4, 2021

The most likely scenario on June 24, weeks after the initial failure of the two columns: the failure extended through the pool deck and the parking lot at street level; the south slab detached from a supporting wall; When it broke on the northern edge, it damaged connections that supported the tower; The collapse progressed through the central part and then the east.

International rescue operations lasted two weeks. Only four people were pulled alive from the debris; one died shortly after in the hospital. Another 35 were evacuated from the part that was still standing.

The building: who built it and what failed from the design

The lead developer was Nathan Reiber, a Canadian lawyer who retired in South Florida and died in 2014. The project was promoted by Nattel Construction and Champlain Towers South Associates, a partnership of about 15 investors, according to the Miami Herald.

The Herald documented planning exceptions in the 1970s and 1980s, a penthouse that bordered on the 12-story height limit and a tumultuous real estate market. The Champlain complex included three towers: South (1981), North (1981) and East (1994, with different technology).

NIST and the 2018 report point out a critical design error: the pool deck waterproofing was installed on a flat slab, with no slope for drainage. The water remained until it evaporated, corroding the concrete and steel, and weakening the structure for decades.

The 2018 Morabito report: the ignored warning

In October 2018 the homeowners association commissioned Morabito Consultants a 40-year structural study. The report—public after the collapse—documented "major structural damage" under the pool and entrance:

• Waterproofing “beyond its useful life”
• Warning: Without replacement, deterioration “will expand exponentially”
• Cracks and spalling in columns, beams and garage slabs
• Previous repairs with epoxy injection considered ineffective
• Estimated cost of repair: millions of dollars, disruptive for residents

Structural repair work had not begun when the building fell. In April 2021, the board of directors approved a loan of 15 million dollars for the works; On the day of the collapse, board members and residents were debating the impact of the fees.

Damage three weeks earlier: what NIST already hinted at

The June 2026 report confirms indications that the federal team had already mentioned in drafts: severe damage to flower pots on the pool deck at least three weeks before the collapse. Photos and testimonies from residents spoke of new cracks and vibrations; some linked work in neighboring Eighty Seven Park (8701 Collins Ave), although that was the subject of separate litigation.

Linked companies and the $1 billion deal

In June 2022, a Miami-Dade judge approved a $1,021,199,000 class settlement between families of victims and more than 24 defendants. None admitted guilt. The main payments, according to the Miami Herald:

Company / entity	Approximate payment	Role in the litigation
Securitas Security Services USA	$517.5 M	Security; emergency alarm not activated that night
John Moriarty & Associates (Florida)	$157 M	General contractor for Eighty Seven Park (neighboring building)
Becker (law firm)	$31 M	Condominium association lawyers
Stantec Architecture	25 M$	Eighty Seven Park Architecture
Western Waterproofing	25 M$	Waterproofing at Champlain Towers
NV5	25.7 M$	Eighty Seven Park Engineering
Morabito Consultants	16 M$	Condominium consulting engineering (2018 report)
Bizzi & Partners Development	$16 M	Eighty Seven Park Development
Concrete Protection & Restoration	11 M$	Concrete repairs
DeSimone Consulting Engineers	8.5 M$	Neighboring Structural Engineering
Florida Civil	$6.9 M	Eighty Seven Park civil works
Geosonics	5 M$	Geotechnical monitoring
City of Surfside	$2 M	Municipal Inspections

Together, the companies linked to the construction of Eighty Seven Park (Terra Group and contractors) contributed around 400 million, accused of damaging the neighboring building by installing piles during the work; They denied it. DAMAC, owner of the collapsed condominium land, also figured in the agreement.

Victims and regulatory legacy

Among the 98 victims was Martha Avila, 76 years old, hit inside her home. Her daughter Jennifer Barbour told local media that she was “super generous and sweet,” without medication and in good health — “she would have reached 100 like my grandmother.” The building was left uninhabitable; Entire families lost homes and loved ones in one of the worst residential disasters in Florida history.

Florida accelerated mandatory building inspection after the tragedy (structural recertification after 30 years and every 10 years thereafter in counties like Miami-Dade). NIST has yet to publish final recommendations to avoid repetition; The investigation cost about 22 million dollars.

In summary

What happened? Champlain Towers South collapsed on June 24, 2021 in Surfside; 98 dead. What does the 2026 report say? The damage started ~3 weeks earlier with two columns from the garage under the pool. Why? Poor design, deterioration of concrete, narrow structural margins and warnings in 2018 without work on time. Who paid? ~$1.021M settlement with Seguritas, Moriarty, Morabito, Becker and dozens more — no fault admitted. What now? NIST seeks lessons for buildings across the US; Families and survivors continue to live with the aftermath of the state's worst residential tragedy.