Miami area condo collapse site death toll climbs to 94

MIAMI – The death toll in a Miami-area condominium collapse rose to 94 on Monday as authorities planned to tighten security at the site to ensure victims’ personal belongings are preserved for their families.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said 22 people were still missing in the June 24 collapse of Champlain Towers South, an oceanfront condominium in Surfside. Levine Cava said 83 of the victims had been identified, but “the identification process has become more difficult over time.”

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said authorities decided to tighten security around the debris pile to ensure the site is preserved. Only authorized personnel will be authorized.

“It is obvious that it has become much more than a collapsed construction site,” said Burkett. “It has become a holy place.”

Miami-Dade Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez III said there was “no crime” at the site, but officials want to make sure the area is secure so teams can continue. to preserve personal items found in the rubble.

“While families are made aware of their family members, the demand is still on the property. People want some kind of connection with their family member, so it’s very important that our process in place continues to run without disruption, ”Ramirez said in a morning press conference.

“It’s just part of the process. It’s a long, painful and hurtful process, ”he said.

Burkett said task teams recently found a calling card for an artist, then found several paintings that they carefully removed from the debris pile to preserve for family members.

Levine Cava also addressed the announcement on Sunday that a vaccinated Miami-Dade County Commissioner who has assisted other local officials in Surfside has tested positive for COVID-19. The press release from Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz said he and his chief of staff, Isidoro Lopez, who also received a COVID-19 vaccine, presented flu-like symptoms earlier in the day and were tested later. positive for the virus.

Levine Cava said officials who were near Diaz and Lopez were tested and all came back negative. Levine Cava and other officials who spoke at Monday’s press conference were not wearing face masks.

Diaz had attended press conferences and meetings with other officials at Surfside, the Miami Herald reported.

“Revolutionary” infections – of fully vaccinated individuals who contract the coronavirus – do occur, although they are very rare. An Associated Press analysis of government data in May showed that only about 1% of those cases resulted in hospitalization or death. The analysis suggested that almost all deaths from COVID-19 in the United States were recently in people who were not vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of vaccine effectiveness and an indication that deaths could be approaching zero if each eligible person receives the vaccine.

Florida health officials last week reported an increase in COVID-19 cases and a higher positive test rate than other recent weeks.