Panic, disbelief and fear: They revealed details of emergency calls after Miami building collapsed

Records of 911 calls after the partial collapse of the Surfside Florida beachfront condo, they reflected the disbelief, panic and confusion that reigned that night as people tried to figure out what was going on.

“Oh my God! The whole building collapsed!”, said a person who called a dispatcher from the Miami-Dade Police Department, who released tapes of the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside on Wednesday, June 24.

“We have to get out. Hurry up, hurry up. There’s a big explosion,” it is heard in another of the calls recorded by the police. “There is a lot of smoke. I see nothing. We have to leave. I don’t see anything but smoke “, adds.

At least 96 people died in the collapse and a handful more are still missing. The cause of what happened has not yet been identified, although there have been several previous warnings of major structural damage to the 40-year-old building.

One of the people who called 911, a woman, said that saw what appeared to be a large well by the pool, which had specific issues that are being investigated as they attempt to identify a cause.

“I woke up because I heard a noise. I didn’t understand what was going on. I looked outside and saw that the patio was sinking. The pool started to sink, ”said the appellant. “There are a lot of parts of the building that collapsed. The building simply sank into a pit. There will be many, many deaths ”, warned.

Another woman who called 911 said she was stuck near the parking lot of the building and needed help. “Can someone please help me? If the building collapses it will fall on my head,” the person said.

Compensation for victims, as soon as possible

A A judge approved the sale of the beachfront property, with the proceeds going to the victims of the deadly disaster.

During a hearing, the Miami-Dade magistrate, Michael Hanzman, ordered the start of the sale of the South Champlain Tours land, which could reach between 100 and 110 million dollars, according to court records.

The court-appointed receiver dealing with the finances of the condominium, the lawyer Michael goldbergsaid the judge wanted the sale to go through quickly. “You want us to start exploring a possible saleGoldberg said of the judge in an email. “He said he wanted the land to be sold and that the product go directly to the victims as soon as possible ”.

Goldberg said the decision did not necessarily prevent a buyer has transformed at least part of the site into a monument, as some of those involved in the tragedy have asked. Other survivors want the structure rebuilt so they can return.

Hanzman’s decision came as part of a series of lawsuits filed in the wake of the collapse. Judge expedited prosecution and allowed Goldberg to start paying insurance money Champlain Tours for the victims and their families.

The judge also approved the $ 2.4 million return of deposits that some Champlain condo owners had already made for an appraisal to pay $ 15 million in planned major repairs.

Meanwhile, around Miami Beach, Residents of another 82-year-old two-story building have been ordered to evacuate due to deteriorating concrete. The city ordered the evacuation of Devon apartments on Monday and is giving residents until next Monday to vacate the building, city spokeswoman Melissa Berthier said in an email on Wednesday. The building is approximately 3 miles from Champlain Towers South.

After the collapse, the mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava, commissioned an audit of all buildings over 40 years old. the the evacuation of a condominium near North Miami Beach for security reasons shortly after the start of the audit.

The collapse prompted many concerns about the city’s oldest residential buildings.

(With AP information)

Read on: