Officials are plotting to demolish the remains of the collapsed building in Surfside, Florida.
The plans were announced Thursday after concerns about the structure’s instability prompted a 15-hour search suspension to survive.
After rescue efforts resumed Thursday evening, officials said plans had begun for the possible demolition of the remaining structure. The number of confirmed victims until Friday was 20 while 128 people are still missing.
Scott Nacheman, a structures specialist with the federal agency for emergency management (FEMA), said engineers are analyzing different methods for destroying the rest of the building. He said if the building is destroyed, there will initially be a slowdown in rescue operations.
But the specialist said the demolition of the structure would create a safer working environment that could allow more staff on site and speed up the pace of work.