Miami building collapse: No more survivors found overnight as fire hinders rescue efforts

Video captures harrowing moment of Florida building collapse leaving 51 missing

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.

Key points

• Pregnant British mother, husband and daughter thought to be among missing
• Miami building collapse: Rescuers hear ‘banging’ as Florida declares state of emergency
• Joe Biden’s responds to Miami condo collapse
• Rescuers pull a boy from the rubble, as search ongoing
• Death toll rises to four - mayor
• Dramatic video shows moment of building collapse
• Governor Ron DeSantis says to expect ‘bad news’
• Relatives of Paraguay’s First Lady among dozens of people missing after Florida building collapse

[24 June 2021 15:15 · Gino Spocchia]

CCTV footage shows collapse

Video footage of the collapse is starting to emerge.

This CCTV footage appears to show the exact moment the building fell in the early hours of this morning.

A cloud of dust is kicked-up into the air.

It was obtained by local television station WSVN 7 News, and shared to Twitter.

Warning: Some viewers may find this video upsetting

[24 June 2021 15:31 · Gino Spocchia]

DeSantis thanks first responders for ‘saving lives’, expects ‘bad news'

In a post to Twitter, Florida governor Ron DeSantis thanked Miami-Dade rescuers for saving lives during the building collapse, which he described as “tragic”.

It is not currently known how many people have been pulled from the rubble, beyond two survivors who are currently hospitalised.

He added in a briefing that “we are bracing for some bad news”, with the numbers of those missing, or killed, still to be confirmed.

“We are bracing for some bad news just given the destruction that we're seeing,” said Mr DeSantis, in comments reported by CNN.

"The quick response was very important and I do think it saved lives," Mr DeSantis added. "I want to thank the folks for their bravery in doing that”.

He is expected to visit the scene in Surfside, Miami, later today.

[24 June 2021 15:39 · Gino Spocchia]

First indication of numbers of people missing

Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman has said 51 people believed to be residents of the building are currently unaccounted for.

She cautioned that it was unclear if all of the 51 were inside at the time of the collapse, and that number could change.

[24 June 2021 16:04 · Gino Spocchia]

Damage to building vieweable from beach

Residents of Surfside, Miami, are waking up the news of the collapse of Champlain Tower South.

Some were seen at the beach in front of the 1980s building, observing the damage from overnight.

It is thought that a “substantial” amount of the units were occupied at the time of the incident.

(AP)

[24 June 2021 16:10 · Gino Spocchia]

Former vice mayor among residents rescued

A resident of Champlain Tower South and former vice mayor of Surfside, Miami, has told the Associated Press that he was asleep with his wife when he first heard a sound he thought was lightening.

The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find "a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around."

"I couldn't walk out past my doorway," said Barry Cohen, the 63-year-old former vice mayor of Surfside. "A gaping hole of rubble."

He and his wife eventually made it to the basement and found rising water there. They returned upstairs, screamed for help and were eventually brought to safety by firefighters using a cherry-picker.

Mr Cohen said he raised concerns years ago about whether nearby construction might be causing damage to the building after seeing cracks around the pool area.

[24 June 2021 16:21 · Justin Vallejo]

35 rescued as thunderstorm pauses recovery operations

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed 35 occupants of the building were rescued, with 10 treated for injuries on site and two taken to local hospitals, shortly before officials paused search efforts due to a storm.

Miami Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman told CNN that crews have completed searching both the partially compromised and the standing parts of the building, and were now shifting to recovery efforts in the collapsed areas.

"In pause mode because we have a thunderstorm that has managed to come ashore," Ms Heyman reportedly said.

[24 June 2021 16:31 · Justin Vallejo]

Watch: Video of building collapse

Dramatic video shows the building as it collapses, as seen in the below tweet from talk show host Andy Slater.

The centre section of the building crumbles shortly before the building section to the right, from the camera’s view, collapses into the missing space.

[24 June 2021 16:37 · Justin Vallejo]

Mayor says engineers ‘inspecting’ building as fears grow of second collapse

Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava spoke to press briefly before meeting with families, saying that engineers were inspecting the remaining portion of the building left standing.

“Those people have been evacuated so there is nobody is in immediate danger, and of course the engineers are inspecting and making sure what’s involved, and yes they’re making sure that it’s safe,” she said.

[24 June 2021 16:44 · Justin Vallejo]

Joe Biden calls Miami mayor to offer help, reports say

Miami mayor Daniella Levin Cava told media she received a call from the president offering help and resources, according to Miami Herald reporter Bianca Padro Ocasio.

The White House and FEMA have been monitoring the collapse and have been contact with local officials, CNN reported.

But this is the first indication Biden himself has been briefed and involved in the incident.

“Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives as a result of this terrible tragedy, and to the families who wait in anguish as search-and-rescue teams assess the situation. We send our gratitude to the heroic first responders working tirelessly to save lives this morning,” the official told CNN.

[24 June 2021 16:50 · Justin Vallejo]

‘We’re bracing for some bad news’: Ron DeSantis says

The Florida governor told a news conference Thursday morning “we are bracing for some bad news given the destruction that we’re seeing”, according to The Miami Herald.

DeSantis was speaking at the Hillsborough Community College after the collapse at the Surfside condo, where an estimated 51 people remain unaccounted for.

One person has already been confirmed dead, with two taken to local hospitals and another 10 treated for injuries.