After the collapse of a 12-story hi-rise seaside apartment building overnight, at least one person is dead and an unknown number of victims are trapped inside.
A massive search and rescue operation by Miami-Dade County emergency responders is underway after a seaside apartment building in the Town of Surfside, Florida, collapsed for unknown reasons.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue tweeted about the disaster, writing: “On Thursday at 1:30 a.m., #MDFR responded to reports of a building collapse at Champlain Towers, a 12-story, 136-unit apartment complex located at 8777 Collins Avenue.”
On Thursday at 1:30 a.m., #MDFR responded to reports of a building collapse at Champlain Towers, a 12-story, 136-unit apartment complex located at 8777 Collins Avenue. #SurfsideBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/VmqW2zKO0z
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
Pictures and video of the scene have been shared around Twitter as more than 80 fire and rescue units are on the scene pulling people out of the rubble.
Watch: More than 80 fire and rescue units are on the scene of a partial building collapse in Miami, the Miami-Dade county Fire Rescue Department says in a tweet.https://t.co/o1QLjpcE8O pic.twitter.com/jiOoy50Fdi
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 24, 2021
Pictures from the scene show that one side of the building is collapsed. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, and crews are searching the collapsed building for survivors.
Search & rescue efforts are ongoing, with #MDFR crews searching the building and the debris around the structure for any survivors. #SurfsideBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/LqQ2lj5EHn
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
According to a witness, part of the building was flattened, and screams could be heard when it collapsed.
Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett has announced that dozens of people were displaced from the apartment building, and a nearby hotel was evacuated.
Miami-Dade County firefighters had rescued 35 occupants from the collapsed building as of approximately 9:00 a.m. on June 24, ten of whom had to be treated for injuries. Two victims were transported to local hospitals.
#MDFR began search & rescue efforts. Firefighters rescued 35 occupants from inside the building. Out of the 35, 10 occupants were treated for injuries and two were transported to local-area hospitals. #SurfsideBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/Q0M8DXbChz
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
Streets in the surrounding area have also been closed, with traffic being diverted to alternative routes to make way for rescue vehicles.
The Champlain Towers building was built in the 1980s, and officials have yet to make an announcement about the cause of its collapse. Mayor Burkett stated that it was difficult to believe how this disaster could have happened, adding: “Buildings don’t just fall down.”
#MDFR crews found that the northeast corridor of the building had sustained a partial collapse. Approximately 55 apartment units were impacted by the collapse. #SurfsideBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/7XcP1PeDui
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
The Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue’s official Twitter account is asking for anyone who lives at the apartment complex to complete a “Wellness Check Form” as part of their effort “to ensure all tenants of the building are located.”
If you live at the Champlain Towers at 8777 Collins Avenue, please complete a Wellness Check Form as part of Miami-Dade County's efforts to ensure all tenants of the building are located: https://t.co/7sGY83fDvQ #SurfsideBuildingCollapse
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
There is a family reunification center set up at 9301 Collins Avenue for people looking for unaccounted or missing relatives.
UPDATE: The correct address for the family reunification center is 9301 Collins Avenue. https://t.co/Mb5O5TJLjx
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) June 24, 2021
REUNIFICATION CENTER — If you’re looking for unaccounted or missing relatives from the #SurfsideBuildingCollapse a family reunification has been set up at the Surf Side Community Center at 9301 Collins Ave. You can also call 305-614-1819 pic.twitter.com/JTGncenBtp
— Marcine Joseph (@MJ_Reports) June 24, 2021
