Miami building collapse: No more survivors found overnight as fire hinders rescue efforts
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Your support makes all the difference.There has been no update to the number of survivors from the Miami building collapse overnight on Friday, officials said.
Rescue teams were still working to locate 159 unaccounted for people after the 12-storey Champlain Towers South building fell on Thursday. Four people have been confirmed dead.
One problem impacting the search efforts was a fire that’s burning deep within the rubble from the collapse.
Authorities were now working to locate the source of the fire, or fires, while also finding ways to still search for any possible survivors.
More fatalities are expected as authorities warned the number of missing from the collapsed apartment complex in Florida could increase from the current figure of 159.
Meanwhile, a researcher at Florida International University has revealed that the building had been sinking into the ground since the 1990s.
Firefighters rescued 35 people from the Champlain Tower South building that collapsed in the middle of the night on Thursday in Surfside, a beachside town just 6 miles (9.6 km) north of Miami.
Those with family members who may have been in the building at the time of its collapse are asked to call 305-614-1819. More information here.
‘Everybody was screaming’ Witness accounts emerge as recovery continues
As media interview survivors at the family reunification centre in Miami, horrific details are emerging of the chaos experienced fleeing the collapse of a building in the darkness of night.
“Everybody was screaming and panicking… once you got down to the lobby… it was filled with nothing but dust and debris." Aaron Miles told CNN. “It was awful. Kids, grownups screaming. Women and children crying. It was probably one of the worst experiences I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”
Jeff Pias, 60, told USA Today he was next door when what sounded like a “huge tornado” before people started screaming for help.
"I could see people on the balconies yelling, ‘Help me’,” he said.
Former Surfside Vice Mayor Barry Cohen, 63, told the newspaper he and his wife woke up from what sounded like a crack of lightning. They opened the door to find a gaping hole of rubble, “dust and smoke billowing around.”
Brad Cohen and his brother, who were on the 10th floor of the building that collapsed, remain missing after 15 hours, as Mr Cohen’s wife pleaded news on his whereabouts.
Resident shares CCTV footage
A resident of Champlain Tower South, who says she was away from her apartment during the incident, has shared this video from insider her home.
It shows dust falling in front of the camera, which cuts off as the building collapses.
She told CNN: “That's our apartment, my family apartment. I actually left for the weekend yesterday and I always set up a camera when I leave, so that was the footage I got.”
“It only records when it detects movement so... it detected movement, it recorded that piece, and then it lost connection.”
Thunderstorms affecting rescue efforts, say officials
Referring to current weather conditions as “inclement”, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue have reassured resident that coordination work is ongoing.
Miami Heat players helping out
The Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro and Chris Quinn have been seen helping bring supplies to the family reunification centre, following the collapse of Champlain Tower South.
The centre, which is located at 9301 Collins Ave, a few blocks north of the collapsed 12-story building, is where a number of residents have been reunited with relatives.
So far, we know that 55 apartments collapsed, and 51 people are unaccounted for.
Mayor says ‘we have the right people on the job’
“We have the right people on the job,” said the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, during a press conference.
She went on to praise the search and rescuers and local agencies for working throughout the night, and said “we are going to continue our efforts here”.
Local community leaders, including Rabbis, have also reached out to Miami-Dade officials and families, in what Ms Cava described as an area with many Jewish residents.
Red Cross involved in rehousing residents
Here’s what else we know from the press briefing that has just finished:
- Five state agencies are assisting
- Death toll still stands at one person, although this could rise
- The Red Cross are working to temporarily house residents
- Residents of the remaining portions of the building are fully evacuated
- Families are encouraged to report a missing relative at 305-614-1819
Joe Biden says he has spoken with mayor
The US President told reporters at the White House that he has spoken with Miami-Dade mayor Cava, CNN reports.
“I have, I’ve spoken with the mayor, I’ve spoken with the congresswoman, and I’ll have more to say later," Mr Biden said.
Ms Cava, in a tweet, said the Democrat has offered the “full support of the federal government” with the rescue efforts and response, and was being briefed.
Marco Rubio calls collapse an ‘unimaginable tragedy’
The Florida senator has shared further remarks on the incident in Surfside, Miami, in which a 12-story apartment block partially collapsed, causing at least one death.
DeSantis at reunification centre in Surfside
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, is reportedly meeting with victims of the Champlain Tower South collapse.
He said at a press conference beforehand that search and rescuers were “not going to rest”, and that residents would be cared for, with short term hotels set up.
“This is not necessarily going to be immediate in terms of what ended up happening but I know they are going to have engineers look at this,” the governor added.
“It’s a tragic day”.
Recap: Everything we know about the collapse and rescue efforts
- The Champlain Tower South building, built in 1981, collapsed partially at around 1.30am this morning.
- Rescuers from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were able to pull two people from the rubble, who are in hospital.
- One person was pulled from the wreckage of the 130-unit building, deceased.
- 51 people are currently unaccounted for, which is thought to include residents and guests.
- 55 apartments were evacuated from the part of Champlain Tower that has not collapsed.
- About 80 of the 130 units were believed to be occupied.
- A reunification centre has been set up for families, who are being told to call 305-614-1819 to report a missing person.
- Five state agencies are involved in the response, and the White House has offered “full” assistance.
- After a thunderstorm passing over Miami earlier this morning, search and rescue is presumably ongoing.
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