Surfside building collapse latest: 2018 structural report shows evidence of cracks, flooding

ABCNews

By Rosa Sanchez
Octavio Jones/Reuters PHOTO: A person prays at the memorial for victims of a partially collapsed residential building in Surfside, Florida, U.S. June 25, 2021.

The investigation continues into the Surfside, Florida, residential building collapse that left four people dead and 159 still missing.

On Friday night, Surfside town leaders held an emergency meeting where they discussed what happened in the hours before the fatal incident and what must be done to avoid a similar tragedy in the future.

Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer said the town needs to increase the requirements of the recertification process, which includes a series of safety inspections that every building needs to complete every 40 years. James "Jim" McGuinness, the town's building official, agreed.

"Hurricane Andrew changed the Florida building codes forever, so this terrible tragedy, which is a national tragedy, is going to change the building codes as they relate to certification," McGuinness said.

MORE: Surfside building collapse latest: 159 still unaccounted for as death toll rises

The Champlain Towers South condominium, built in the 1980s, was up for its 40-year recertification, according to Surfside officials. Over the years, it had gone through extensive inspections due to deterioration, and the condo association was preparing to make updates and repairs.

Publish : 2021-06-26 13:17:00

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