Florida building collapse - live: Governor declares emergency as search for 99 missing continues
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Your support makes all the difference.One is confirmed dead but 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 “at least” 99.
Firefighters rescued 35 people from the Champlain Tower South building that collapsed in the middle of the night in Surfside, a beachside town just 6 miles (9.6 km) north of Miami.
Two were pulled from the rubble, including a young boy, as early hope of finding more survivors faded with each passing hour. Eleven were treated for injuries and four transported to local hospitals for further medical attention.
A state of emergency was declared as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived to help search and recovery efforts, and to provide assistance and shelter to the 102 people who have been “accounted for” from the building. The 12-storey apartment building built in 1981 was only 40 years old when it collapsed about 1.30 am local time Thursday morning.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue assistant chief of operations Ray Jadallah said that the sonar sound devices from various areas inside the debris have detected signs that could potentially be from some of the 99 people still missing.
“We did receive sounds, not necessarily people talking, but sounds,” Mr Jadallah said.
“What sounds like people banging, well not people but sounds of a possibility of a banging, short of that we haven’t heard any voices coming from the pile.”
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.
Watch: Child pulled from rubble
Footage shows moment a young man is rescued from the rubble by the fire service.
Emergency teams search for trapped residents
Technical Rescue Teams and Miami Dade Fire Services are continuing their search for trapped residents in the building.
NBC reporter Sam Brock said that he could hear the sound of saws as emergency responders moved from balcony to balcony looking for survivors.
One death has been confirmed by Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett, CNN reports.
Fatalities have not yet been confirmed by emergency services.
Contact for concerned family
Concerned family members should call 305-614-1819 if their relatives are missing or unaccounted for, the fire service says.
Those who have confirmed that their family who may have been present in the building are safe should also get in touch.
Family reunification centre set up
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue have clarified the address of the reunification centre set up for concerned family members.
Surfside Mayor addresses press
The building may be at risk of further collapse, Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett tells press.
He adds that the building has “pancaked”. Where there were ten feet between stories, there are now one, he adds.
He says that some people have been found in the building but fears that others may not have survived.
Building built in 1980s, mayor says
“There is no reason for the building to go down like this,” Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett says.
He adds that the building was built in the 1980s. He says roof work was going on and they had a crane out there, but says he can’t see how that would have contributed to the collapse.
“I’m sure there was an application and an inspection,” he says.
One dead, mayor confirms
The building was “substantially full” the mayor says.
He adds that the building keeps a log of guests but not of residents coming in and out.
At least thirty units could have collapsed he adds.
Ten were treated on site and two taken to hospital, of whom one died he adds.
Dogs used to search building, mayor says
Dogs searched the building during the night, and search teams are looking through the rubble, the mayor says.
He says he believes that the search of the part of the building which did not collapse has been completed.
Police confirm one dead
Miami-Dade Police have confirmed one fatality.
They add that they have assumed the investigation.
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