Published
US President Joe Biden visited Florida on Thursday to meet officials and relatives of those killed and missing in the Surfside condominium collapse.
His trip came as the search-and-rescue operation was temporarily suspended due to concerns about the stability of the remaining structure.
The 12-story Champlain Towers South apartment block on Florida's coast near Miami partially "pancaked" in a matter of seconds as residents slept last week.
A total of 18 people have been confirmed dead with 145 still missing, feared trapped in the rubble.
Workers at the site were instructed to stop just after 2 a.m. (0600 UTC) on Thursday, after movement in the debris raised concerns that the part of the building still standing could collapse, officials said.
Rescue crews noticed several expansions in cracks they had been monitoring. They also observed some movement in a large column hanging from the structure "that could fall and cause damage to support columns" in the underground parking garage, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Alan Cominsky said.
In addition, they noticed movement in the debris pile and slight movement in some concrete floor slabs "that could cause additional failure of the building," he said.
"The search-and-rescue operation will continue as soon as it is safe to do so," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news briefing. Officials said they were unsure when that would happen.
The death toll on Thursday rose to 18 after discovering six more bodies, including two children, aged 4 and 10.
Authorities said they have not given up on locating survivors, but the chance of finding anyone alive gets smaller each day. The rescue operation has been slowed amid oppressive heat and humidity and frequent summer storms.
The White House emphasized that it was careful to coordinate with officials on the ground to ensure that Biden's visit did not distract from the search and rescue effort.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch
#Florida #Biden #Miami
His trip came as the search-and-rescue operation was temporarily suspended due to concerns about the stability of the remaining structure.
The 12-story Champlain Towers South apartment block on Florida's coast near Miami partially "pancaked" in a matter of seconds as residents slept last week.
A total of 18 people have been confirmed dead with 145 still missing, feared trapped in the rubble.
Workers at the site were instructed to stop just after 2 a.m. (0600 UTC) on Thursday, after movement in the debris raised concerns that the part of the building still standing could collapse, officials said.
Rescue crews noticed several expansions in cracks they had been monitoring. They also observed some movement in a large column hanging from the structure "that could fall and cause damage to support columns" in the underground parking garage, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Alan Cominsky said.
In addition, they noticed movement in the debris pile and slight movement in some concrete floor slabs "that could cause additional failure of the building," he said.
"The search-and-rescue operation will continue as soon as it is safe to do so," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news briefing. Officials said they were unsure when that would happen.
The death toll on Thursday rose to 18 after discovering six more bodies, including two children, aged 4 and 10.
Authorities said they have not given up on locating survivors, but the chance of finding anyone alive gets smaller each day. The rescue operation has been slowed amid oppressive heat and humidity and frequent summer storms.
The White House emphasized that it was careful to coordinate with officials on the ground to ensure that Biden's visit did not distract from the search and rescue effort.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch
#Florida #Biden #Miami
Sign in or sign up to post comments.
Be the first to comment
Up Next
Autoplay
-
02:59
WATCH: Miami officials give update on building collapse
-
03:19
Number missing in Miami building collapse rises to 159 - BBC News
-
02:34
Miami building collapse: Families of missing desperate for news as rescue efforts continue
-
12:01
4 dead, 159 missing after Miami building collapse
-
02:19
Surfside building collapse: Search and rescue halted over safety concerns
-
03:04
Miami building collapse: at least four dead and dozens missing
-
05:25
Miami building collapse: Engineer warned of major damage in 2018 | DW News
-
01:25
Update on Miami Building collapse: Mayor says 159 people missing
-
02:27
Huge search after deadly building collapse in Miami - BBC News
-
01:58
Miami building collapse: Demolition grows urgent as Elsa approaches | DW News
-
1:22:36
LIVE: Miami building collapse
-
22:37
Number of missing in Miami building collapse rises to 159
-
01:55
Video Shows Moment of Miami Building Collapse | WSJ
-
03:27
Miami building collapse rescuers search air pockets for 'miracle' - BBC News
-
02:37
Florida Lt. Gov. gives update on Miami building collapse
-
03:05
Massive search and rescue operation in Miami building collapse | ABC News
-
26:23
ABC News Update: President Biden to visit site of building collapse
-
03:12
150 unaccounted for in Miami building collapse l On Location
-
2:22:52
LIVE: Miami-area building collapse
-
11:16
Gov. DeSantis addresses Miami building collapse in Surfside, FL
-
10:19
What we know about the Miami building collapse | Nightline
-
05:08
Florida Gov. DeSantis provides updates on Miami building collapse
Loading...