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Recovery efforts at the site of the Surfside condo collapse may soon come to an end as the number of missing persons declines.
Miami-Dade officials were able to account for at least 240 people logged into the building, leaving only a few still classified as “missing” or “potentially missing”.
SURFSIDE CONDO COLLAPSE: 911 CALLS RELEASED
The total confirmed death toll stood at 97 as of Thursday, with 92 of the deceased identified.
A county statement Thursday evening said the task of identifying the victims had become “increasingly difficult”, with 26 million pounds of debris and concrete moved as part of the work.
State and county officials did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News.
CONDO COLLAPSE FIRST RESPONDERS, FAMILIES OF VICTIMS VISITED BY COMFORT DOGS
A cause has yet to be identified, although there have been several previous warnings of major structural damage to the 40-year-old building at Surfside.
The court-appointed receiver responsible for the finances of the condominium, attorney Michael Goldberg, said the judge wanted the sale to proceed quickly.
In a hearing, Miami-Dade circuit judge Michael Hanzman ordered the start of the sale of the Champlain Towers South site, which could bring in $ 100 million to $ 110 million, according to court records.
AIR QUALITY AROUND THE SURFSIDE CONDO COLLAPSE SITE IS MONITORED FOR THE SAFETY OF WORKERS
“He wants us to start exploring a potential sale,” Goldberg said of the judge in an email. “He said he wanted the land to be sold and the proceeds going directly to the victims as soon as possible.”
Hanzman’s decision came as part of a series of lawsuits filed in the wake of the collapse. The judge expedited the lawsuits and allowed Goldberg to begin paying the Champlain Tours insurance money to victims and families.
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The collapse prompted closer scrutiny of older buildings in the area, leading to the evacuation of two high-rise buildings in Miami-Dade County and a third building evacuated Thursday following a partial collapse of the roof.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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