Rabat – A 12-story condominium collapsed in the early hours of Thursday morning in the suburb of Surfside in Miami, Florida. As of 10:00 a.m EDT, rescue personnel have announced at least one casualty due to the collapse.
The collapse occurred around 2:00 a.m and video footage depicts an entire side of the building reduced to rubble. In the wreckage, one can see concrete, rebar, and the remnants of what was once someone’s home.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced that the condominium dates back to 1981 and houses nearly 130 residents.
Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett responded to the incident stating, “This is a horrific catastrophe. In the United States, buildings just don’t fall down.”
According to first responders and eyewitness reports, 10 victims were treated immediately and search and rescue teams are still scanning the rubble for other survivors.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue dispatched 80 rescue units to the scene of the incident.
One witness, Nicholas Balboa, told CNN that he heard the rumble of the collapsing building just before 2:00 a.m. Upon arrival at the scene, Balboa saw a child’s hand sticking up out of the debris. Alongside police officers and other first responders, the bystanders were able to free the young boy from the rubble.
Similar stories of brave rescue attempts continue to circulate throughout local Miami news sources and onlookers have commended the first responders swift response time and rescue efforts.
The story is ongoing as search and rescue teams continue to search for survivors and other casualties.
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