Collapse in Miami: the demolition of the remains of the building was brought forward to Sunday due to the arrival of storm Elsa

Authorities in Florida on Saturday accelerated plans to demolish the unstable remains of the Champlain Towers South condominium as a tropical storm threatens what remains of the building and threatens search and rescue efforts.

The part of the building that remained standing after the devastating landslide in Surfside could be demolished as early as Sunday, authorities said.

Local leaders had said on Friday that the process could take weeks due to the fragility of the structure, but the appearance of Tropical Storm Elsa in the Caribbean has caused them to rethink their plans.. Elsa, which was decommissioned from a hurricane on Saturday, could strike south Florida early next week, causing high winds and rain that could create hazards for workers.

“The fear was that the hurricane could knock the building down for us and cause it to fall in the wrong direction,” the mayor of Surfside said., Charles Burkett. The rapid demolition of the building, he said, “will allow our rescuers to navigate the entire site without fear of the danger of falling debris or buildings.”

The decision to speed up the demolition came after a day of debate on the best course of action. Authorities want to minimize interruptions in the search for victims and put an end to the situation of families as soon as possiblewhile protecting field crews from the dangers posed by the rickety structure as they comb through piles of concrete and metal.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. A Democrat first said engineers were unable to proceed with the demolition quickly, telling reporters on Friday night that “it can’t be before this storm”.

But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said on Saturday that city leaders agreed to go faster after state engineers examined the building. The state government will cover the costs of the operation, DeSantis said, adding that the tower could be brought down “directly with some kind of load.” At the right time, the demolition could allow crews to continue their search for victims with minimal disruption, the governor said.

“Considering that the storm is approaching, this is the wisest thing to do,” DeSantis said.

As Elsa crossed the Caribbean on Saturday, the governor declared a state of emergency in Miami-Dade County and a dozen others along the coast.

The National Hurricane Center has warned of tropical storm, storm surge and rain conditions expected to hit the Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula starting Monday. Winds could reach 104 km / h as the storm moves through the state between Monday evening and Wednesday. Although the eye is expected to pass through the western part of the state, Miami and the surrounding area could continue to experience strong gusts.

Authorities announced on Saturday morning that the remains of two other victims have been found, bringing the death toll to 24, while 124 people remain missing. Survivors and families of the missing have been informed of the demolition plans, Levine Cava said.

“They understand where we are,” he said. “Of course everyone is devastated by the process.”

The demolition will be carried out by Controlled Demolition Inc, Levine Cava confirmed on Saturday. The Maryland-based company has racked up many world records over the years, including the demolition of the largest building to ever implode. The company is also behind large-scale projects, such as the February implosion of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

At the site of the collapse on Saturday, demolition crews were in the remaining structure with Bobcat tractors, searching for places to place explosive charges, according to Burkett.

Steve Rosenthal, owner of unit 705 in the part of the building that did not collapse, celebrated the decision to demolish the condo.

“He has to go. It’s a danger, it’s a pain, it’s a bad memory, ”said Rosenthal, 72. “Tear it down, get rid of it, build a monument there. I think everyone has to turn the page at some point. Because it has to. We need to”.

In the week and a half following the collapse of the condominium, the search for victims was thorough. Even before the tropical storm formed, rescue efforts were hampered by local storms and growing concerns about the vessel’s stability. On Thursday, “structural concerns” led crews to stop work for nearly 15 hours while engineers inspected materials for weaknesses.

Allyn Kilsheimer, a senior engineer hired by Surfside to investigate the collapse, said he spent the week trying to design a model that will allow for safe demolition.

“We have narrowed it down to two demolition scenarios to present,” he told the Washington Post in a short interview. “I didn’t say it was safe, but the idea is to make it as safe as possible.”

A few miles above, authorities on Friday ordered the evacuation of a condo in North Miami Beach that authorities deemed “structurally and electrically dangerous”. City officials are inspecting all buildings over five stories for signs of weakness that could threaten the safety of residents inside.

Crestview Towers, a 156-unit skyscraper located about seven miles north of Champlain Towers South, became the first building to sound alarms. Hundreds of residents evacuated Friday evening, leaving with suitcases, pillows and bicycles.

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