Yesterday, rescuers combed amid fresh rubble for victims of a collapsed condo complex in South Florida, after technicians detonated explosives that brought down the last of the structure, allowing search efforts to resume.
According to Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah, three more corpses were located in the newly accessible pile, bringing the total death toll to 28. More than 115 people are still missing.
According to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on NBC's Today, the demolition opened up a previously inaccessible location for rescuers, however, the prospects of finding any survivors there have dwindled.
“We understand that families are aware that time has passed, and they are aware that their chances are dwindling,” she said. “They've been with us the whole time, and they know what we've been up to.”
Yesterday, crews could be seen at the scene ascending a mound of debris beside a piece of heavy machinery that was cleaning up material.
After the implosion late Sunday, crews quickly began clearing some of the additional debris so that rescuers could begin making their way into portions of the underground garage that are of particular interest. The search was resumed before midnight, according to officials.
Mr. Jadallah told family members of those missing, “As a result of the contractor who brought it down, he did it in such a way that literally we were back on the original pile in less than 20 minutes,” bringing applause in a rare uplifting moment for the twice-daily gatherings.
As they searched for individuals trapped beneath the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which collapsed on June 24, rescuers hoped to gain a better view of any gaps that may lie in the wreckage. Since the initial hours after the collapse, no one has been saved alive.
David Epstein (58), one of the 28 people believed to have died in the tower, was recognized by Miami-Dade police on Sunday. On Friday, his remains were discovered.
The structure resonated with the sound of explosions during the demolition. Then the building began to crumble, one story at a time, resulting in a dust explosion. As spectators watched from afar, plumes billowed into the air.
Some residents had requested to be allowed to return to their homes to grab their possessions before the demolition, but they were rejected.
