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a26 obituario/u.s. news
Diamars 6 Juli 2021

Condo demolition opens up fresh rubble in

collapse search

(AP) — Rescuers searched
through fresh rubble
Monday after the last
of the collapsed Florida
condo building was de-
molished, which allowed
crews into previously in-
accessible places, includ-
ing bedrooms where peo-
ple were believed to be
sleeping at the time of the
disaster, officials said.

Three more victims were
discovered in the new pile,
Miami-Dade Assistant Fire
Chief Raide Jadallah told to be sleeping when the the air as crowds watched the
family members, raising the building collapsed. scene from afar.
death toll to 27 people. An- “We will be able to access ev-
other 118 people remain un- ery part of that pile, which Levine Cava told the Associ-
accounted for. they hadn’t been able to do ated Press that the demolition
up to this point,” DeSantis went “exactly as planned.”
The demolition late Sunday said. “I think it’s going to
was crucial to the search- move the pace. I think the “It was picture-perfect. Ex-
and-rescue effort, officials momentum is very strong.” actly what we were told
said, and raised the prospect would happen,” she said in
that crews could increase Crews could be seen climb- an interview.
both the pace of their work ing a mound of debris at the
and the number of search- site Monday alongside a piece Some residents had pleaded
ers at the site, although the of heavy equipment that was to return to their homes one
chance of finding survivors picking up rubble. last time before the demoli-
12 days after the June 24 col- tion to retrieve belongings,
lapse has diminished. Workers immediately began but they were denied. Oth-
clearing some of the new ers wondered about the pets
“We know that with every debris after the demolition left behind. Officials said
day that goes by, it is harder so rescuers could start mak- they found no signs of ani-
to see a miracle happening,” ing their way into parts of mals after making three final
said Maggie Castro, a fire- the underground garage that sweeps, including the use of
fighter and paramedic with is of particular interest. Of- drones to peer into the aban-
the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue ficials said the search effort doned structure.
who briefs families daily. resumed around midnight. It
had been called off Saturday Levine Cava said teams are
Teams had been unable to to allow specialists to drill working to save personal
access areas closest to the re- holes for explosives needed items and have asked resi-
maining structure because of for the demolition. dents to catalog what they’re
its instability, Miami-Dade missing to match with items
County Mayor Daniella “As a result of the contractor as soon as they are recovered.
Levine Cava said. who brought it down, he did
it in such a way that literally “The world is mourning for
“Truly we could not continue we actually were back on the those who lost their loved
without bringing this build- original pile in less than 20 ones and for those who are
ing down,” she said at a news minutes,” Jadallah told fam- waiting for news from the
conference. ily members of those miss- collapse,” she said at the news
ing, drawing applause in a conference. “To lose your
Part of the existing debris pile rare upbeat moment for the home and all your belong-
was also helping to support twice-daily meetings. ings in this manner is a great
the remaining structure, City loss as well.”
of Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Rescuers hoped to get a
Ignatius Carroll said. Res- clearer picture of voids that The decision to demolish
cuers were still holding out may exist in the rubble as the remnants of the build-
hope of reuniting loved ones. they search for those believed ing came after concerns
to be trapped under the fallen mounted that the damaged
“We continue to remain fo- wing of the Champlain Tow- structure was at risk of fall-
cused on our primary mis- ers South. ing, endangering the crews
sion, and that is to leave no below. Parts of the remaining
stone unturned and to find as No one has been rescued building shifted on Thurs-
many people as we can and alive since the first hours af- day, prompting a 15-hour
to help bring either some ter the collapse. suspension in the work.
answers to family and loved
ones or to bring some closure During the demolition, a Approaching Tropical Storm
to them,” Carroll said. loud rat-a-tat of explosions Elsa added urgency to the
echoed from the structure. demolition plans. President
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Then the building began to Joe Biden declared a state
said the newly accessible area fall, one floor after another, of emergency in Florida be-
includes master bedrooms cascading into an explosion cause of the storm, making
where people were believed of dust. Plumes billowed into federal aid possible.