Video After The Jump
The death toll rose to four & 159 people are still unaccounted for after the partial collapse of a beachside condominium building in Surfside, officials said Friday.
Search & rescue teams worked throughout the night & were continuing to sift through the rubble of the Champlain Towers South, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.
"We will continue search & rescue because we still have hope that we will find people alive," the mayor said.
The bodies of three more victims were found at the site, bringing the death toll to four, while the number of people unaccounted for rose to 159, Levine Cava said. She said 120 people have been accounted for.
Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez said they are working with the medical examiner’s office to identify the four victims.
Many people remained at the reunification center set up near the collapse site early Friday morning, awaiting results of DNA swabs that could help identify victims.
"These are very difficult times & things are going to get more difficult as we move forward," Ramirez said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue assistant Chief Ray Jadallah said 130 firefighters are working on rescue operations at the site & they were receiving additional resources from FEMA.
Crews were using dogs & microphones to sift through the wreckage & try to find signs of life, Jadallah said.
“Every time we hear a sound, we concentrate on those areas,” he said.
Heavy machinery was being brought to the site Friday to help with the search & removal of debris, Levine Cava said. She added that rescuers were at “extreme risk” going through the rubble.
"Debris is falling on them as they do their work. We have structural engineers on site to ensure that they will not be injured, but they are proceeding because they are so motivated & they are taking extraordinary risk on the site every day,” she said.
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Source: NBC Miami
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