Search crews have heard sound from the rubble, state fire marshal says
From CNN’s Leyla Santiago and John Couwels
State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis tells CNN that tactical units working the collapsed building heard sounds from the rubble earlier today as they did search and rescue efforts.
Patronis said that rescuers heard an individual earlier today in the parking garage area that they are having difficulty getting to.
“The rescuers are hearing sounds from the rubble,” he said. “It’s kind of hit or miss. You get into the zone where you are so passionate and so focused and so determined to make sure you are doing everything possible to save a life in an event like this.”
Patronis described what search and rescue units are experiencing in the building.
“It’s like going to the gym but it’s not air conditioned, trying to remove rubble but at the same time fearful that the debris around you could come down on you. There’s flooding, there’s fuel, there’s unstable ground, in addition, the challenge of the urgency of saving lives,” he said.
Patronis said that this remains an active rescue mission as they determine how much further they can go safely into the building.
99 people still unaccounted for in building collapse, according to Miami-Dade police
From CNN’s Rosa Flores
Ninety-nine people are unaccounted for after the partial building collapse in Surfside, Florida, according to Miami-Dade Police Department spokesperson Alvaro Zabaleta.
Previous reports were that 51 people were unaccounted for in the incident at the Champlain Towers South condominiums.
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The NBA’s Miami Heat lend help at partial building collapse
From CNN’s Jacob Lev
National Basketball Association’s Miami Heat helped distribute bottles of water and snacks to emergency workers at the site of the partial building collapse in Surfside, Florida, the team confirmed to CNN.
Heat player Tyler Herro, assistant coaches Chris Quinn and Eric Glass, director of basketball administration Scott Gurka, and vice president/executive director of Miami Heat charitable fund Steve Stowe were the members on site helping on Thursday.
World Central Kitchen and Direct Relief, both who are recipients of the Heat’s charitable arm, were also on hand at the scene. World Central Kitchen is feeding first responders and Direct Relief is helping displaced residents.
Mayor of nearby village says the silence at the scene of the collapsed building is “deafening”
From CNN’s Gregory Lemos
Bal Harbour Mayor Gabriel Groisman described the scene at the Champlain Towers collapse as “devastating.” Bal Harbour is around a mile north of Surfside, Florida, where the collapse occurred.
“Frankly, it’s devastating. The site is devastating,” Groisman told CNN’s Ana Cabrera, adding that half of the building is “a pile of rubble.”
Groisman, who toured the site of the collapse with the governor and other elected officials, said what struck him was the silence at the scene.
“What stood out was the quiet,” he said. “To see the building just sitting there in just silence, you know the unfortunate truth of the fact there are many people that are in that rubble and all you hear is silence. And it’s really deafening.”
Officials said search and rescue efforts could take nearly a week. At least 51 people who are assumed to live in the building are unaccounted for, officials said, but it’s unclear if any of them were home at the time of the collapse.
Groisman said he lived in the building from 1983 to 1991 and described it as one “that generally, at least from the outside, seems to be in good condition.”
The community is largely Jewish, Groisman said, and the building is mostly occupied by senior citizens and young families.
Groisman revealed he knows a number of people who are unaccounted for, adding that the community is “tight knit.”
Biden: FEMA is “ready to go” if Florida governor declares a state of emergency after collapse
From CNN’s Maureen Chowdhury
President Biden said that federal resources, including assistance from FEMA, are “ready to go” to respond to the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, and that they’re waiting for Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency.
“So, we are on top of it, we are ready to move from the federal resources immediately… If in fact we’re asked for it. But we can’t go in and do it, but FEMA is down there taking a look at what’s needed,” Biden said.
Biden noted that his chief of staff Ron Klain is heavily involved along with members of his Cabinet to make sure federal resources are ready to be deployed.
“My chief of staff has been deeply involved in this from the very beginning. We got the cabinet involved in it now in terms of dealing with FEMA. We’re working on it. I made it clear, I say to the people of Florida, ‘Whatever help you want that the federal government can provide, we’re waiting, just ask us, we’ll be there,'” Biden said.
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4 Venezuelan and 8 Argentinian citizens missing in Florida building collapse, according to consulates
From CNN’s Paul P. Murphy
The consulates of two countries, Venezuela and Argentina, say that a number of their citizens are missing in the Surfside, Florida, building collapse.
Brian Fincheltub, Venezuela’s consular affairs director, wrote on Twitter that they have identified four citizens that are in the building.
“We are already in contact with the authorities that are searching and their families,” he went onto say.
In a press release published on Twitter, Argentina’s consulate in Miami said that nine citizens are currently missing.
Miami-Dade mayor: The collapse is an “unimaginable” situation, but we are hopeful
From CNN’s Maureen Chowdhury
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that while the collapse of the building is an “unimaginable situation that none of us could have predicted” they have the right people on the job and are “very hopeful.”
“Our team at Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue has dealt with collapse situations before. Their dogs are trained. They have been on the scene since they got the call at 1:38 this morning. And they are doing a fantastic job. They were able to rescue so many from the buildings, the intact building, the collapsed building, and really incredible that at this time we’ve only identified one person as having passed. So we are very, very hopeful,” Cava said.
Cava said that the city is working with the Red Cross and its own social service agency to accommodate people who are displaced. Cava also noted how surrounding cities and towns have offered assistance with their police departments.
“They’ve all come to help with their police departments, with their own moral support and presence,” she said.
Cava noted that the area is predominately Jewish and support from rabbis and chaplains are on hand as well.
The mayor also highlighted reunification efforts for those looking for missing people.
“Anyone who is looking for a missing loved one, anyone with information, we have a hotline, 305-614-1819. This is how we are going about continuing this operation with the support of family members. We are also going to be receiving family members. We’re going to accommodate them,” she said.
Short-term hotels have been set up for displaced people, governor says
From CNN’s Elise Hammond
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said with help from the Red Cross, short-term hotels are now set up for people who were displaced by the building collapse.
Officials said approximately 55 units at the Champlain Towers South were impacted. On Thursday morning, County Commissioner Sally Heyman said 51 people who are assumed to be living there have not been accounted for.
The governor said “it is really, really traumatic to see the collapse of a mass like that.”
He said the next steps will be to “with the city and the county, state, to make sure that there’s any longer-term needs, that we can be helpful in any way we can.”
DeSantis said rescue crews are still working hard, looking for people.
“We still have hope to be able to identify additional survivors, and the state of Florida, we’re offering any assistance we can,” he said.
Biden has been briefed on partial building collapse
From CNN’s DJ Judd and Jason Hoffman
President Biden told reporters today that he has been briefed on the building partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida.
“I have, I’ve spoken with the mayor, I’ve spoken with the congresswoman, and I’ll have more to say later,” he told reporters at the White House.
An official also said the White House and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working with local officials to help provide assistance.
“This morning the President spoke with Mayor Levine Cava and offered federal assistance and support for dealing with the terrible tragedy in Surfside. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain spoke with Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz, in whose district the building is located, and the White House and FEMA are coordinating with local officials to provide assistance if needed,” said a White House official. “Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their beloved as a result of this horrific incident – and to those families who wait in anguish as search-and-rescue teams assess the situation. The White House is continuing to monitor the situation, and we send our gratitude to the heroic first responders who are working tirelessly to save lives this morning.”
What we know: At least one person is dead and at least 10 are injured. At least 51 people assumed to be living in the building are not accounted for, officials say.
