Joe Biden will travel to Florida this Thursday to visit the remains of the collapsed building in Miami

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he planned trip to Florida Thursday to visit the site of the partial collapse of a 12-story building in Surfside (Miami-Dade) which left at least 11 dead and 150 missing.

In brief statements to reporters at the White House before leaving for an event in the state of Wisconsin, Biden indicated his intention to attend the scene of the tragedy that occurred last week.

“Yes I hope. As soon as we can. Maybe as early as Thursday», Answered the president to the questions of knowing if he considered to go to this city of the county of Miami-Dade. The White House subsequently confirmed the trip, which will also include First Lady Jill Biden.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday that they had been sent to the event area. resources of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and experts from various federal agencies such as the Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the FBI are also working to help rescue and analyze what happened.

The number of missing by the collapse now stands at 150, while those found alive are 136, indicated on Monday the mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava, who promised to go “to the bottom” in the investigation to determine the causes of this tragedy which has affected individuals and families in various countries.

Following the White House announcement, the mayor said: “The response and support we have received from federal, state and other partners over the past six days has been unprecedented, and I am deeply grateful. The President will visit the scene of this tragedy to spend time with affected families and first responders”.

For reasons not yet determined, the northeast wing of the Champlain Tours building, inaugurated in 1981 and comprising a total of 136 apartments, collapsed at dawn on June 24, while its residents were sleeping.

Most of the deaths identified so far have been Hispanic, as have many rescuers including teams from other parts of the United States and also from countries like Mexico and Israel.

Biden said on Sunday that his administration would coordinate with local authorities and that he was “ready to provide any support or assistance necessary.” In a statement, he added: “It is an incredibly difficult time for the families who are suffering from this tragedy.”

Experts are investigating possible pre-existing critical flaws in the structure of the apartment tower, which collapsed into a smoldering pile of debris as residents slept early Thursday morning.

Rescuers in Florida and overseas have worked tirelessly to search the rubble for signs of life, but the outlook is growing grim as no one has emerged alive from the rubble. “The research continues and it will not stop until there is a resolution,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters on Monday.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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