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.
Sonar reveals ‘banging’ from beneath the rubble that could be survivors
Fire rescue crews said sonar searches of the rubble have heard what could be survivors “banging” beneath the wreckage.
“We haven’t heard voices. We did receive what sounds like people banging, well not people but what sounds like banging.”
Latest updates on deceased, injured, missing and survivors
- 102 have been “accounted for”
- 99 remain missing “at least”
- 35 victims were rescued from the structure
- 2 were rescued from rubble
- 11 were treated for injuries
- 4 were transported to hospital
- 1 has been confirmed dead
BREAKING: Rescuers say they can hear ‘what sounds like banging’ as they search for missing 99
Rescue crews using soar to search for survivors revealed they hear what could be people “banging” beneath the rubble of the collapsed apartment building in Miami.
Assistant chief of operations Ray Jadallah told reporters 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.”
Rescuers hear ‘what sounds like banging’ beneath Miami building in search for missing 99
Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz visits collapse site, calls disaster ‘enormously devastating'
Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents the Florida district where the building collapsed, visited the disaster site on Thursday.
‘The humanity that we see, the evidence of people living their daily lives and everything evaporating in an instant is just enormously devastating,’ the congresswoman said afterward.
Ms Wasserman Schultz said she would work to make sure there’s “no daylight” between the federal, state, and local governments as they work to provide aid to the victims.
Firefighters search through collapsed building’s basement for survivors
The Miami-Dade fire department has posted a video of rescue workers continuing to search for survivors in the basement of Champlain Tower South.
“Firefighters continue working on locating possible victims, while dealing with heavy damage and changing conditions in the parking garage,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue wrote in a tweet of the video, which showed rescuers searching through a dark, flooded basement filled with debris.
Florida governor declares state of emergency, enlisting federal government’s help
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has signed an order declaring a state of emergency, which will allow the state to receive aid from the federal government.
“Because of the foregoing conditions, I declare that a state of emergency exists in Miami-Dade County,” Mr DeSantis wrote in the order.
Earlier today, President Biden promised to deliver such aid if requested. The help will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Miami building collapse: Rescuers hear ‘banging’ as Florida declares state of emergency
As survivors at the family reunification centre in Miami spoke to the media, horrific details emerged of the chaos in the darkness of night as people fled the storm of concrete and steel.
“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.”
Read the full recap of the day’s events:
Rescuers hear ‘what sounds like banging’ beneath Miami building in search for missing 99
Watch: Video captures harrowing moment of Florida building collapse leaving dozens missing
The dramatic moment Champlain Tower South collapsed into itself was captured from nearby security camera footage.
Watch it below:
Relatives pray for information as 99 people remain missing
More than 100 people gathered at the Surfside Community Center on Thursday, waiting for more information about their friends and family who loved in the 12-storey apartment building, writes The Independent’s Graeme Massie.
“Soriya Cohen showed a picture of her husband, Brad Cohen, who she said is missing after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building. Luz Marina held up a picture of her aunt, Marina Azen, who she said is missing after the shocking incident. Sergio Barth of Miami, whose brother Luis Barth, 51, was visiting town from Colombia with his wife and daughter and was staying at a friend’s apartment in the damaged side of the building. Luis Pettengill and Sophia López Moreira, who is a sister of the first lady, Silvana López Moreira, are unaccounted for along with an employee and the couple’s three children.”
Relatives pray for information as 99 people remain missing in Florida
ICYMI: Boy pulled out of rubble after Miami building collapse
As first responders searched for survivors following a deadly building collapse in southern Florida’sMiami-Dade County early Thursday morning,firefightersmanaged to rescue a young boy, with video capturing the moment they pulled him out from the rubble.
In the video, several firefighters can be seen lifting the boy from the rubble before one first responder lifts the child over his shoulder and begins to carry him away.
Chantal da Silva covered the story.
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