Over to the United States, where a tragedy happened yesterday night, when a beachfront condominium building partially collapsed, leaving at least 1 person dead and dozens more unaccounted for. As such, U.S. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration in the state of Florida. At this juncture, police and rescuers are still working day and night to search for victims of this incident, as 100 people remain missing tonight.
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The horrific building collapse was captured by a closed-circuit camera close by. A wing of the condo complex first collapsed, and a few seconds later, another portion of the condo complex also crumbled. Just in a few seconds’ time, and a large part of the condo complex was completely reduced to rubble.
The 12-story building’s partial collapse has aroused fears that buildings close by would also come down.
The building was said to have collapsed with an extremely loud bang, like a thunder, rousing people out of bed and prompting them to look out their windows, according to this witness.
Barry Cohen, witness:
I was in a deep sleep, and I heard an incredible bang that, I figured that it was a lightning storm. It just kept on going for like 30 seconds, and my wife and I got whatever we could together and we went to leave our apartment, and we opened up the door from our apartment, and there was a huge pile of rubble, and dust, and just havoc.
Voiceover:
The deadly building collapse now has officials vowing they will do everything they can to search for those unaccounted for.
Governor Ron DeSantis: They (rescuers) are in search-and-rescue mode. They are trying to identify survivors. I know they have made contact with some, and they are doing everything they can to save lives.
Voiceover:
Falling chunks of masonry and other parts of the condo complex literally wreaked havoc on Surfside, Florida.
The nightmare happened at around 1:30 a.m. in the morning.
Rescuers have been working day and night, leaving no stone unturned in their search for those still missing. But as of this evening, more than 100 people are still unaccounted for. This has the county’s Mayor standing in solidarity with Floridans, and once again, promised that officials will find all the missing victims in one way or another.
Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor:
As the sun sets on the most tragic day this community can remember, we stand in solidarity once again, to tell you, we are working around the clock to search and rescue people in this rubble.
Voiceover:
Having witnessed the aftermath of the most horrific building collapse in history, U.S. President Joe Biden today approved an emergency declaration in the state of Florida and ordered federal assistance to a gargantuan rescue effort that is currently underway.
As a part of the wall of some apartments in the complex is gone, with part of the building completely reduced to rubble, rescuers are now feverishly searching for residents who are still trapped underneath the rubble or still upstairs.
First responder:
We still have people standing upstairs that certainly need to be evacuated.
Voiceover:
Rescuers were seen using ladders to help those trapped in the rubble and a part of the complex get out of the unkempt place.
This is now considered the deadliest building collapse on record.
As search crews continue their search for missing residents, it is unclear if the death toll will still rise, and when the dust will settle.
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