The Miami Building Collapse Death Toll Raises to Nine

Officials confirmed Sunday morning that the death toll in the Miami-area condominium collapse rose to at least nine individuals; this comes amid rescue squads reinforced by state and federal resources, as well as groups from Mexico and Israel resuming their digging through the wreckage.

The governor of Florida stated on Saturday that the top goal of rescue personnel is to locate and reunite those building tenants who are still missing; meanwhile, the reason for the 12-story building collapse remains still unknown even four days later.

Inhabitants in a similar building will be relocated, as a legion of engineers conduct a top-to-bottom assessment of the building’s structure.

Rescue Workers are Operating at Full Speed

The reason for the collapse of Champlain Towers South is unknown; however, Burkett contrasted the 30-foot pile of flattened concrete (and deformed metal that rescuers combed through for victims) to the arduous rescue efforts that occurred in 2001 when the World Trade Center was brought down.

However, occupants of Champlain Towers North, which Burkett claims was built during the same period (by the very same builder with the same designs and likely the same components), will be relocated when a top-to-bottom inquiry begins next week.

Burkett said on Fox & Friends earlier Sunday that he walked the site of the building collapse that morning and has seen significant progress since Saturday afternoon; this comes after heavy rainfall overnight.

The rainfall hasn’t prevented the endless waves of rescuers who arrived on the scene from all over the world, including Mexico and Israel, to save the residents out from the debris.

As rescue workers used massive industrial equipment to clear the debris from off the top (as well as digging in from beneath), more than 200 members of the family of people inside the building remained in a nearby hotel ballroom; in this space, they were briefed by officials on a regular basis and expressed dissatisfaction with the recovery process.

As firefighters fought fire and smoke deeper within the mound in a race against time, the confirmed death toll increased to five on Saturday. They employed it all from specialized canines and acoustic gear to buckets and UAVs to combat the sulfur-like stink in the air.

The Number of Missing is Now 156

The discovery of three victims reduced the number of individuals missing to 156, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Teams also uncovered other unidentified dead bodies. Police are taking DNA samples via relatives to assist in the identity of the corpses, which will be delivered to the medical examiner.

Burkett also stated late Saturday that a city official conducted a brief inspection of the adjoining Champlain Towers North and Champlain Towers East buildings. Thus far, they have found nothing unusual.

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