Death toll rises to 90 in Miami condominium collapse

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sun, October 1, 2023 | 21:38

Death toll rises to 90 in Miami condominium collapse

Posted : 2021-07-12 21:04

Updated : 2021-07-12 21:04

Construction equipment is used to dig through the mound of debris from the collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building is seen through fencing on July 11, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. AFP-Yonhap

Search crews have discovered an additional four victims of the Surfside condominium collapse, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Sunday, bringing the confirmed death toll from the June 24 catastrophe to 90 with a remaining list of 31 people feared lost under the rubble.

The newly discovered victims were not identified at the daily media briefing that marked the 18th day of the search effort and the fourth since the county-led operation shifted from rescue mode to recovery. Levine Cava announced July 7 that there was no hope of finding anyone alive in the debris from the 12-story oceanfront condominium tower, a decision that shifted the debris site from a rescue operation run by the county fire department to a death investigation overseen by Miami-Dade Police.

On Sunday, the search effort continued during a mix of light rain and sunshine on a site that now includes both the rubble from the initial collapse and July 4 demolition of the remaining tower. The demolition was planned to prevent more rubble from falling on debris from the collapse, and the pace of the recovery process picked up after the remaining tower fell.

Crews have reached the bottom of some portions of the debris pile from the 12-story building, with Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky saying the latest layers removed over the weekend revealed vehicles from the underground parking garage.

While Levine Cava said 31 people remain unaccounted for, she said that number is not firm. County police investigators continue to try and confirm the whereabouts of some people on the list, while they're confident most were in the building at the time of the overnight collapse.

Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava gives her remarks during the daily morning press conference outside the County's operational center on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. AP-Yonhap

Freddy Ramirez, Miami-Dade's police director, said Sunday that of 31 missing, 26 have case numbers ― a designation that reflects confidence the person was in Champlain Towers South when it collapsed and did not escape. "There are five that have no support system behind them. We're not sure if they're missing people or not, because no one is reporting them" missing, he said.

On Saturday, an Israeli rescue team ended its deployment to Surfside. Leaders of the Israeli team frequently took part in private briefings for families of missing residents of Champlain Towers.

Footage posted on social media showed the squad marching up Collins Avenue on Saturday, an Israeli flag at the front of the procession and applause from rows of local first responders on either side.

During a brief ceremony on Saturday evening, Cominsky declared the team's leaders honorary commanders of the county department, according to The Associated Press. Levine Cava presented the battalion with a ceremonial key to the city, and thanked the battalion for their "unrelenting dedication."

In an interview with WPLG's "This Week in South Florida," Levine Cava said the Israeli team changed into rescue gear at the airport of Miami International Airport when they first arrived so there would be no delay in joining the operation. She said the squad provided Miami-Dade with 3D mapping techniques that produced a detailed map that helped chart where victims could be found in the Champlain Towers rubble, and also brought expertise in how to handle briefings and interactions with families of the missing. (DPA)

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