CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The search continued Saturday morning for survivors of a 12-story condo building that came crashing down early Thursday morning.
Morgan Benmosche's friend Ilan Naibryf, a student at the University of Chicago, is among the estimated 159 still missing. He's remaining optimistic that they'll be rescued.
"They're gonna get pulled out. I never did not have faith," Benmosche told CBS 2.
Benmosche said he hopes Naibryf, who was visiting family in the Surfside, Florida condo building, will be found alive along with his girlfriend.
"The whole world love loves him. Hey, you cannot not love him if you met him. He was supposed to be at my house today. He's supposed to come in from Miami and stay at my house this weekend," Benmosche said.
Jon Zaghloul is another friend of Naibryf. The two were roommates during their freshman year at the U of C.
"Life was normal a few seconds before it happened then all of a sudden they're just rushed out of their room," Zaghloul said.
Juan Mora, who works for Chicago-based Morton Salt, is another local resident who's missing. Mora was visiting his parents who live in the building.
CBS Miami reported that River Grove native Richard Augustine is also among the missing.