Status: 04.07.2021 3:46 p.m.
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The collapsed house in Surfside in the US state of Florida is to be demolished shortly – faster than planned, because the tropical storm “Elsa” is approaching. The rescue operation was suspended. 121 people are still missing.
The salvage work on the partially collapsed house in the US state of Florida is currently difficult. In preparation for the demolition of the building in Surfside town, the search for survivors had to be temporarily suspended. This was announced by the head of administration of the Miami-Dade district, Daniella Levine Cava.
The demolition is urgent because the tropical storm “Elsa” is moving towards Florida and the house is to be destroyed before the storm arrives. A collapse of the part of the building caused by the storm could endanger the safety of the search teams if they continue to search in the rubble. The rescue operation will continue as soon as sections of the accident site are safe, assured Cava.
The satellite image (from Maxar Technologies) shows the partially collapsed residential buildings at Champlain Towers South, Surfside / Florida.
Build: AP
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There is another obstacle: One of the search teams had to be disbanded due to a corona outbreak. According to the chief of the Miami-Dade fire department, Alan Cominsky, all those affected have been isolated and the contact persons have been identified.
Little hope of survivors
Around ten days after the accident, there is little hope of finding survivors in the rubble. By Saturday evening, 24 fatalities had been discovered, 121 people are still missing.
The twelve-story residential building Champlain Towers South had partially collapsed on the night of June 24th. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown. In 2018, however, an appraisal had found “major structural damage” to the building, which was completed in 1981.
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