University Of Chicago Student, Morton Salt Executive And Loyola Graduate Among Missing In Florida Condo Collapse
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A University of Chicago student, and a former Loyola University graduate and manger for Chicago-based Morton Salt are listed among the missing in the condo tower collapse in Florida.
Juan Mora, the manager of the East Coast road salt distribution business in Chicago's Morton headquarters, has been reported among the approximately 160 still missing .
"We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Juan is reported to be one of the more than 150 people missing," the company said in a statement. "The Morton Salt team remains hopeful for Juan, his family and the other victims of this tragedy and will keep them in our thoughts as rescue efforts continue."
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reports, the message from those who knew the victims is that they're staying optimistic and they're trying to do anything to help in the recovery effort.
The surveillance video that captured the collapse is hard to watch.
It's even more painful for Jon Zaghloul, whose University of Chicago freshman roommate, Ilan Naibryf, also is believed to have been inside.
"Life was normal a few seconds before it happened then all of a sudden they're just rusted out of their room and. A building collapses, and who knows where they are in the now," said Zaghloul.
He is one of many close friends left stunned by the news.
They tell said Ilan was visiting family in Surfside at the time of the collapse.
"He was supposed to be at my house today. He was supposed to come in from Miami and stay at my house this weekend," said friend Morgan Benmoshe.
Morgan Benmoshe played soccer with Ilan in Israel and they trained together in LA. He said Ilan's personality sets him apart from others.
"The whole world loves him. You cannot not love him. If you met him, there's no way someone would be like I don't love him," he added.
Mora was visiting his parents, Juan Mora Sr. and Ana Mora, at their home in the Champlain Towers.
A spokesperson for Morton Salt told me Mora is a Chicago-based employee where he serves as manager of East Coast Distribution for road salt.
His coworkers remain hopeful and Morton Salt also plans to donate $25,000 to assist with relief efforts and support services.
CBS Miami also confirmed that River Grove native Richard Augustine is also unaccounted for after the collapse.
Zaghloul and Benmoshe said they're praying for Ilan, his missing girlfriend, and all the other missing people.
Because right now keeping faith is the only thing they can do.
"They're gonna get pulled out," Benmoshe said. "I never did not have faith."
Morton Salt also plans to make a $25,000 donation to a local agency to assist with relief efforts and support services. Mora graduated from Loyola 10 years ago with a bachelor's degree in international business.
The Miami Herald reports that Mora was visiting his parents, who are also missing.
University of Chicago student Ilan Naibryf, a fourth-year student studying physics and molecular engineering, and his girlfriend are is also among the missing.