Tag Archives: disaster

Video Shows Gushing Water Before FL Tower Collapse

ABC News reports: Video recorded at Champlain Tower South minutes before its deadly collapse Thursday appears to show water pouring out of a ceiling in a parking garage and rubble on the ground, ABC News has confirmed. Adriana Sarmiento told ABC News that she and her husband were on vacation and swimming in the pool at the nearby Bluegreen Vacations …

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Grand Jury To Investigate Surfside Condo Collapse

The Washington Post reports: Miami’s top prosecutor pledged Tuesday to have a grand jury examine last week’s collapse of an oceanfront high-rise, suggesting that even as the search continues for survivors, the focus was quickly shifting to accountability for a disaster likely to go down as one of the country’s worst. The announcement by Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle …

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Biden And First Lady To Visit Site Of Condo Collapse

NPR reports: The White House says President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Florida Thursday to view first hand the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium. Asked by reporters if he planned to visit Surfside, Biden said, “Yes I hope so, as soon as we can. Maybe as early as Thursday.” The White House issued a …

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April Letter Warned Tower Damage Was Getting Worse

USA Today reports: An April letter sent from the president of the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association said that damage to the doomed building’s basement garage had “gotten significantly worse” since an inspection about two and a half years earlier and that deterioration of the building’s concrete was “accelerating.” The letter also suggested that millions of dollars in needed repairs …

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Condo Collapse Likely Started In Parking Garage

The New York Times reports: The investigation into what may be the deadliest accidental building collapse in American history has just begun, but experts who have examined video footage of the disaster outside Miami are focusing on a spot in the lowest part of the condominium complex — possibly in or below the underground parking garage — where an initial …

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Surfside Condo Collapse Death Toll Rises To Nine

Miami’s CBS News affiliate reports: There are now nine confirmed deaths in the Champlain Towers South condo collapse in Surfside. On Sunday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said progress was made overnight in the search and rescue mission. “We are cutting a deep trench to assists us. It is now 125 feet in length into the pile. It is 20 …

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Miami-Dade Mayor Orders Audit Of Older Buildings

CBS News reports: The Mayor of Miami-Dade County ordered an audit of all buildings in the county at the 40-year point and beyond in the wake of the collapse of 12-story building in Surfside. The death toll remains at four, with 159 people unaccounted for. Authorities said another 127 people have been accounted for in the collapse. On Saturday, Mayor …

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2018 Engineering Report Warned About Surfside Tower

The Washington Post reports: Engineers who evaluated the South Florida condo that partially collapsed Thursday, leaving dozens trapped under the rubble, warned in a 2018 report of a “major error” in the construction’s original development. The report – released late Friday by officials in Surfside, Fla., – notes that the building’s reinforced concrete slab is not sloped to drain. As …

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Surfside Death Toll Rises To Four As Digging Continues

The Miami Herald reports: The arduous and heartbreaking task of recovering the bodies of victims at the site of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo began overnight and continued into a somber Friday morning in Surfside. Shortly before 7:45 Friday morning, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said authorities have now confirmed four deaths. No additional survivors had been …

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2020 Study Showed Florida Tower Had Been “Sinking”

USA Today reports: A Florida high rise that collapsed early Thursday was determined to be unstable a year ago, according to a researcher at Florida International University. The building, which was constructed in 1981, has been sinking at an alarming rate since the 1990s, according to a 2020 study conducted by Shimon Wdowinski, a professor in the Department of Earth …

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LIVE VIDEO: DeSantis Speaks From Condo Collapse Site

Miami’s ABC News affiliate reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis solemnly admitted the state is “bracing for some bad news” following a partial condo building collapse in Surfside early Thursday morning that left at least one person dead. DeSantis arrived at the scene around 12 p.m. and is scheduled to hold a news conference around 12:30 p.m. Officials said at least …

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50+ Unaccounted For In FL Condo Collapse [VIDEO]

The Miami Herald reports: Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Ray Jadallah says 55 units in the Northeast corridor of the building collapsed, and 35 survivors were pulled out. Ten were treated at the scene, two were transported to the hospital. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett confirmed at least one person has died. Authorities anticipate more fatalities but wouldn’t speculate on the number. …

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12-Story Florida Condo Tower Partially Collapses, 100 Unit Building, Massive Search And Rescue Underway

The Miami Herald reports: A 12-story oceanfront condo tower partially collapsed early Thursday morning on Collins Avenue in the town of Surfside, spurring a massive search-and-rescue effort with dozens of rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Part of Champlain Towers South Condo, completed in 1981 with more than 100 units at 8777 Collins Ave., collapsed around 2 a.m. …

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Mexico City Subway Overpass Collapse Kills At Least 23

NBC News reports: A Mexico City subway train overpass collapsed onto a road on Monday night, killing at least 23 people, including children, authorities said. Dozens more were injured. Photos and video from the scene showed mangled train cars hanging from the crumbled overpass and rescue personnel searching and transporting people away from the scene on stretchers. “A support beam …

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Dozens Killed In Israel Ultra-Orthodox Stampede

The BBC reports: At least 44 people have been killed in a crush at a crowded religious festival in the north-east of Israel. Dozens more were injured at the Lag B’Omer celebration, which takes place annually at the foot of Mount Meron. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the scene and said Sunday would be a day of national mourning. …

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OREGON: 500,000 Ordered To Flee Wildfires [VIDEO]

Reuters reports: Around half a million people in Oregon were ordered to evacuate on Friday and residents of its largest city, Portland, were told to be ready to go as extreme wind-driven wildfires scorched U.S. West Coast states, causing at least 24 deaths. About 10 percent of the state’s population faced red “GO!” warnings to leave homes immediately, while hundreds …

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CA Wildfires Continue Record Destruction [VIDEO]

CNN reports: At least 22 large fires are burning in California, where dry, windy conditions and record-breaking high temperatures have been fueling flames for weeks in some areas. While firefighters continue to battle the flames and rescue people from dangerous areas, other agencies are proactively closing national forests and temporary power shut-offs have been ordered to prevent future blazes. The …

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Wildfires Continue To Rage Across California [VIDEO]

The Independent reports: Dozens of wildfires have scorched nearly one million acres across California as officials scramble for aid to contain the raging blazes. Nearly 12,000 firefighters are actively combatting more than 20 fires, each made up of several blazes, as Governor Gavin Newsom seeks support from neighboring states and emergency services across the US and abroad. “These fires are …

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Lebanese PM And Government Resign After Blast

Gulf News reports: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab, submitted his resignation on Monday to Lebanese president Micheal Aoun since a deadly blast blamed on state negligence ripped through the capital. The explosion, along with a severe economic crisis, has been widely blamed on decades of corruption and misrule by Lebanon’s entrenched political class. Lebanon’s cabinet faced mounting pressure on Monday …

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World Leaders Pledge $300M To Aid Beirut [VIDEO]

Reuters reports: World leaders and international organizations pledged nearly $300 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Beirut in the wake of the devastating explosion, but they warned on Sunday that no money for rebuilding the Lebanese capital will be made available until the country’s authorities commit themselves to the political and economic reforms demanded by the people. Over 30 participants …

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