SURFSIDE, Florida – Search teams digging into the rubble of a tower in Florida pulled six more bodies from the rubble on Wednesday, bringing the death toll confirmed to 18. It is the highest daily number since the building almost collapsed a week ago, taking the shape of a broken concrete pile.
The number of unregistered inhabitants is 147.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava made the announcement at an evening press conference. She said two of the dead were children.
Earlier in the day, the teams had opened a path that should allow the use of heavier equipment, perhaps speeding up the removal of concrete, which “could bring extremely good news,” said the head of the state fire department.
Since the sudden collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South tower last week on Surfside, rescue teams have been working to remove layers of concrete from the collapsed building without piling up the volatile pile of debris.
Miami-Dade Deputy Fire Chief Raide Jadallah told family members of the unidentified on Wednesday that an open path over the overnight pile enabled rescue crews to use a crane in previously inaccessible areas. . He said this improves the chances of finding new space pockets in the urgent search for survivors.
“We hope to start seeing a noticeable improvement in the possibility of (finding) a gap that we cannot see,” said Mr Jadallah.
In an interview with the Miami WSVN television station, Florida Fire Chief Jimmy Petronis described the diversion as “a Herculean attempt” that would allow teams to “use massive equipment to remove large pieces of concrete,” which could lead to positive results.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation. An engineering report from 2018 revealed that the pool basin on the first floor of the building was supported by a concrete slab that had “major structural damage” and needed extensive repairs. The report also found “large cracks” in concrete columns, beams and walls in the parking garage.
Just two months before the building collapsed, the board president wrote a letter to residents saying the structural problems identified in the 2018 inspection had “significantly worsened” and that major repairs would cost at least $ 15.5 million. While receiving bids for repairs, the building suddenly collapsed last Thursday.
Search-and-rescue teams still face major setbacks as they spend the seventh day searching for survivors. The steep fall of the building’s tiles has hampered efforts to reach someone who may have survived potentially into some pocket of space.
Miami-Dade City Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said the process of moving the tiles is difficult and dangerous.
“We are working together as a team to achieve this goal and this is to save someone’s life,” Mr Cominsky said on Wednesday. “It was difficult. I just want to emphasize this. We are still making progress. We look at the resources that come in support. “We are exhausting every opportunity here.”
Officials are also concerned about the possibility of weather interference in search-and-rescue efforts.
Teams have already had to deal with the occasional bad weather that caused temporary delays at work, and are now keeping an eye on two storm systems in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center said the storms could turn into tropical systems in the coming days, but it is unclear at this point whether they will pose a threat to the United States.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said some of the structures in Surfside may have to be withdrawn in the event that storms hit any part of Florida. “It’s the season and we have to be ready,” he said.
The possibility of severe weather prompted state officials to ask the federal government for an additional search and rescue team. Kevin Guthrie of the Florida Emergency Management Division said the new team, which is likely to come from the state of Virginia, would be prepared if severe weather hit, enabling the teams that worked in place for days on end.
Authorities said it was still a search-and-rescue operation, but no one has been found alive for several hours after the collapse on Thursday.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden planned to travel to Surfside on Thursday.
“They want to thank the heroic emergency workers, search and rescue teams and all those who have worked tirelessly all the time and meet family members,” who are waiting for something new for their loved ones, said the secretary. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday.
Mr Jadallah told family members on Wednesday that if they wanted to meet with President Biden, they would have to respond through a form of police and fire department officials.
Miami-Dade Police Chief Freddy Ramirez said he hopes President Biden’s visit will boost morale for the devastated community.
“We had some challenges from the weather, sadness, pain. “And I think the arrival of the president will bring a unity here for our community, support, just like from our governor, our mayor, all together.”
