ByBEN BARUCH, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Officials have confirmed that at least four people are dead and at least 159 unaccounted for after a building partially collapsed in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, early Thursday morning. The Miami-Dade mayor, speaking at a press conference, expressed the concern that the building could collapse entirely. 

Some 20 Jews are among the missing persons, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed. It is not yet clear if any hold Israeli citizenship. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Maor Elbaz, the Consul General of Israel in Miami, and updated him on the state of operations in the area due to the collapse of the building in Miami.

In addition, he spoke with the head of the Jewish community in Miami, Jacob Solomon, offering his support. 

Lapid added: "The Foreign Ministry personnel in Miami and here in Israel are doing everything they can to help the wounded and the families. It is a difficult and complex event, and it will take time to deal with it. We are here for the victims for any assistance they may need."

Also among the missing persons are the family members of Paraguay's First Lady and total of 6 people from Paraguay are missing at this time. CNN reported late Thursday night that four Venezuelans and eight Argentinians are among those missing. 
As of now, half the units in the building have collapsed, according to Miami-Dade mayor. 

A thunderstorm has paused rescue operations, CNN reported, citing a county official.
The Miami-Dade mayor states she has spoken to President Biden in a recent tweet.
The 12-story building, called Champlain Towers, is located at 8777 Collins Avenue next to 88th Street, in the heart one of Miami's most Jewish neighborhoods. It was built in 1981. 

A hotel next-door was evacuated since they can't guarantee that the buildings are stable.

"It's hard to imagine how this can happen," the mayor said. "Buildings don't just fall down."
 
Barry Cohen, 63, has lived in the building since 2018 and was in a deep sleep when part of the building came down. 

"We looked out on our balcony and there was dust pluming out," he said. "We could see the outside from the inside."

Cohen and other residents of the building were rescued by Miami Dade Fire Rescue. 

"They are able to rescue some people... but I heard some screams," a resident of the building told NBC Miami's Sam Brock. "I lost a lot of friends, part of the building is pancaked."

Witnesses told Local 10 news that people were stuck inside the southern tower of the building. Rescue crews are currently working to remove people from the wreckage. One dramatic video published by WSVN 7 News from Miami shows firefighters pulling a minor out of the rubble. 
An image posted on Miami Beach Police's Twitter account showed a tangle of rubble with debris spilling down from what was left of the balconies of the building in the darkness. The reason for the collapse is unknown.

According to the Vice Mayor of Surfside, the building passed a roof inspection shortly before the collapse. 

Some 2,500 Orthodox Jews lived in Surfside in 2018, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. It's across the street from Harding Avenue, which is home to a plethora of kosher restaurants and grocery stores. 

The Jewish community grew rapidly in the 1980s after years of antisemitism in the area. At the center of the community, and down the block from the collapse, is The Shul. It was founded by Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and developed into a main community center.

The collapse also occurred within walking distance of popular area hotels such as the Four Seasons, the Grand Beach and the St. Regis. 

If you are looking for family members, you can call 305-614-1819. A family reunification center has been established at 9301 Collins Avenue. Emergency information can be found by calling 305-993-1071. 

Reuters contributed to this report.
 
This is a developing story.