One dead as condo tower collapses partially in Miami, rescue operation still underway

One dead as condo tower collapses partially in Miami, rescue operation still underway

Associated PressUpdated: Thursday, June 24, 2021, 10:53 PM IST
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The rear side of the sea-view tower collapsed in Miami | AFP

Surfside: The sea-view side of a 12-floor beachfront condo tower collapsed in the Miami-area town of Surfside early on Thursday morning, killing at least one, trapping residents in rubble and twisted metal. The collapse sent a cloud of debris throughout the neighbourhood. Scores of rescue units rushed to the partially collapsed building and firefighters were seen pulling survivors from the concrete debris.

Authorities had no immediate word on other casualties or details of how many people lived in the building. Miami Dade Fire Rescue was conducting search and rescue operations, and said in a tweet that more than 80 units were "on scene with assistance from municipal fire departments". " The entire back side of the building has collapsed. We're on the scene so it's still very active," said Sgt Marian Cruz of the Surfside Police Department."

In a tweet, Miami-Dade police said one person has died in the collapse.

Santo Mejil, 50, told the Miami Herald his wife called him from the building, where she was working as an aide for an elderly woman. “She said she heard a big explosion. It felt like an earthquake," Mejil told the newspaper. He said she later called him and said rescuers were bringing her down.

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