12-Story Condo building in Florida collapses, 99 still missing [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A condo building partially fell apart in Surfside town in Miami-Dade, Florida on Thursday, killing at least 1 person.
• Per Miami-Dade Mayor’s office, there were at least 99 people unaccounted for.
• Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing and would last up to a week.

An apartment building partially collapsed in Surfside town in South Florida on Thursday, leading to search-and-rescue operations. The catastrophe resulted in at least one fatality, per police.

Per officials, around 35 survivors were rescued from the building as of today. About two people were rescued straight from the rubble.

Speaking with Fox News, the Miami-Dade Mayor’s office said that there were still missing 99 people.

“Over 80 MDFR units including #TRT (Technical Rescue Teams) are on scene with assistance from municipal fire departments,” Miami Dade Fire Rescue tweeted Thursday.

Photos online showed firefighters rescuing at least one boy from the debris. Per CBS Miami, at least nine individuals were brought to the hospital.

Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent reinforcement needed for the search-and-rescue operation. Governor Ron De Santis also sent help. The retrieval services would likely last up to one week.

Speaking with Fox News, one witness who was on vacation and staying in the building, said that he was just next door when he experienced something like an earthquake or a tornado.

“It was the craziest thing I ever heard in my life,” he said, adding that he thought much of the units from the building were inhabited. He also noted that the tragedy happened at around 1:20 in the morning. 

Miami-based journalist Joel Franco was live-tweeting as he witnessed the unfolding of events. He noted that a search-and-rescue truck arrived at the scene and posted a dozen of survivors being rescued by responders.

“I did see some family members being rescued by a crane from the Miami-Dade Fire Department,” he said, noting that seeing first-hand what was happening, it was “tough to document.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the collapsed building is just one block away from the current condo residence of former presidential daughter Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has arranged a family reunification center within the vicinity. Those with missing family members may get in touch thru hotline 305-614-1819.

Per Surfside police, the sea-view building, which is located at 8777 Collins Avenue, was developed in 1981 at Surfside beach’s south east side. At present, the building has listed two-bedroom units on the market with price value of around $600,000 to $700,000.

Source: Fox News