Remaining Surfside Condo Structure Demolished Ahead of Tropical Storm
Building collapsed away from existing debris will expand search and rescue efforts, officials say
A demolition crew has collapsed the remaining structures of the collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida.
Explosives were set off at 10:30 p.m. ET at Champlain Towers South in a controlled operation that officials say will aid search and rescue efforts for the remaining 121 victims still missing following the June 24 collapse.
Officials say the detonation was also to manage risks of the damaged building falling on its own as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches.
“We want to make sure that we control which way the building falls, and not a hurricane,” Mayor Charles Burkett of Surfside told reporters before the demolition.
Watch replay of remaining portion of Surfside condo building being demolished
Watch: Demolition of Surfside, Florida condo near Miami that partially collapsed in June
Replay Video UP NEXT
Officials are racing to demolish the remaining portion of Champlain Towers South condo as Tropical Storm Elsa threatens to bring high winds and heavy rain to South Florida.
Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah told the families of missing loved ones that demolition crews drilling holes for the explosives had completed their work as of Sunday evening, and that the remaining structure was scheduled to come down between 10 p.m. Sunday and 3 a.m. Monday.
Updated July 4, 2021 at 10:53 PM ET
SURFSIDE, Fla. Crews used explosives late Sunday night to demolish the remaining structure at Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla.
The heavily damaged condo building was knocked down at about 10:30 p.m. Eastern time.
The targeted blast caused the tower to fold and crumble, sending a large plume of dust and debris over a section of the beachside community. A crowd watching from a distance prayed as the building came down.
Before the structure was leveled, Miami-Dade County police urged residents who live nearby to remain indoors and shelter in place.
Miami-Dade County officials said removing the tower was an essential step so search and rescue teams could resume scouring the rubble pile for victims of the disaster.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) Demolition crews set off explosives late Sunday to bring down the damaged remaining portion of a collapsed South Florida condo building, a key step to resuming the search for victims as rescuers possibly gain access to new areas of the rubble.
A number of explosions could be heard and then the building started to fall, sending up massive plumes of dust into the air in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Crews were to begin clearing some of the new debris so rescuers could start making their way into parts of the underground garage that is of particular interest. Once there, they were hoping to get a clearer picture of voids that may exist in the rubble and could possibly harbor survivors.
Watch replay of remaining portion of Surfside condo building being demolished
Watch: Demolition of Surfside, Florida condo near Miami that partially collapsed in June
Replay Video UP NEXT
Officials are racing to demolish the remaining portion of Champlain Towers South condo as Tropical Storm Elsa threatens to bring high winds and heavy rain to South Florida.
Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah told the families of missing loved ones that demolition crews drilling holes for the explosives had completed their work as of Sunday evening, and that the remaining structure was scheduled to come down between 10 p.m. Sunday and 3 a.m. Monday.