Miami: Champlain Towers building demolished by explosion | Before Storm Elsa arrives

Ten days after the collapse, Destroyed by a controlled explosion Rest of the Surfside Building, near Miami, before Tropical Storm Elsa reached the Florida coast.

Demolition It was held this Sunday at 10:30 p.m. local time Because the authorities They were afraid that the rest of the building would collapseThis jeopardizes the rescue operation.

The search for the victims had stopped on Saturday To prepare for demolition, with a Temporary balance 24 dead, 121 missing.

“The demolition itself is limited to the area around the building,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine warned Sunday during a news conference.

The mayor warned that they had suggested “as a precaution” that “residents of the vicinity stay indoors” to avoid dust and “other particulates that are a by-product” that arise with demolitions.

Levin noted that “the building was demolished in a controlled manner”Essential to expand the ‘search process, because the teams were not able to deepen it further due to the danger of landslides.

That’s why it was added Tropical Storm Elsa imminent arrival in Floridascheduled for Tuesday. On Saturday, the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, said the demolition “had to do it anyway” because “a storm was coming.” “He is wise,” he said.

Biden visit

President Joe Biden visited the scene last Thursday He met the relatives of the victims who improvised a memorial on a metal grid covered with pictures of the dead and missing and decorated with flowers and candles.

Argentine victim

This weekend, the first Argentine landslide victim was identified: Photographer Graciela CattarossiShe is 48 years old and lives on the premises with her daughter, Stella. He also died in the tragedy. The parents and one of the photographer’s sisters make up a list of eight Argentines who are still missing.

Causes of collapse

Until now There is no clear answer to the cause of the collapse, Even if It is being investigated in this regard. “We don’t have solid evidence of what happened,” Biden said Thursday, referring to “a number of questions.”

Among them, the US President mentioned the maintenance of the building and its structure, nearby construction sites, and the rising water level.

A 2018 report by city officials revealed fears of this happening Significant structural damage to the complexFrom the concrete slab under the pool deck to the columns and beams in the parking lot.