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Rabat – Following the collapse of a 12-story apartment building in Miami on June 24, search and rescue teams announced that 64 residents perished in the collapse. As of July 7, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated that “the transition from rescue to recovery will take place at midnight tonight [July 7].”
Read also: 12-Story Building Collapses in Miami, Entraps Residents
The search and rescue teams were able to identify 40 of the 64 recovered bodies and the families have already been notified. However, the teams have still not accounted for 76 people.
Demolition teams decimated the remaining portion of the building on Monday in a controlled demolition. Investigative teams continue to collect pieces of rubble as all debris is considered “evidentiary debris,” according to the mayor.
Experts have noted the unusual style of collapse that flattened the building.
“Usually in a building collapse like this you will find what we call void spaces, you know, spaces that are created by objects that stop the falling debris above your head, and that’s sort of where you find victims,” said Dr. Christopher Valerian, medical manager for New Jersey Search and Rescue Task Force 1 in a statement to CBSN.
Valerian added that the rescue teams were unable to identify large household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, underlining the force in which the building came down.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Raide Jadallah commented on the collapse stating, “Typically an individual has a specific amount of time, in regards to lack of food, water and air. This collapse, you know, just doesn’t provide any of that sort.”
While the Miami community continues to mourn the deadly building collapse, recovery teams will continue to use large machinery to clear the site of debris. As of Friday, the teams have already removed nearly 124 tons of debris.
