Florida building collapse: death toll reaches 46 as rescuers recover 10 more victims
- The rescue effort is not slowing despite the number of days passed since the collapse of the block of flats in Surfside, near Miami, on June 24
- Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said there were no work pauses in the rescue mission on Wednesday, a welcome change from two lightning delays on Tuesday
On the 14th day of searching, 10 more victims and additional human remains were recovered from the rubble of what was once Champlain Towers South, Miami-Dade Fire Chief of Operations Ray Jadallah told families in a private briefing on Wednesday.
The rescue effort is not slowing, despite the number of days passed since the condominium’s sudden collapse in the early hours of Thursday, June 24.
The death toll in the Surfside collapse now stands at 46, the most victims found in any 12- or 24-hour period. Jadallah said families of 32 of the victims have been notified.
Since the demolition of the remaining part of the building on Sunday night, 22 victims have been recovered from the rubble, and officials have said the demolition of the remainder of the collapsed block of flats allows rescuers to search a wider area. Significant removal of the pile has allowed rescuers to get into areas they could not access before.
Even so, Jadallah said rescuers equipped with cameras have yet to identify any voids, or spaces, in the rubble during initial searches of the new areas.