After partial collapse in Florida: high-rise ruin was blown up under controlled conditions

The collapsed residential complex in Surfside, Florida, has been blown up. The demolition was brought forward because of an approaching tropical storm. More than 121 people are still missing.

The remains of the residential complex in Miami, which partially collapsed, have been blown up in a controlled manner. The instability of the ruins was dangerous and hindered the progress of the rescue operation in the part that collapsed eleven days ago, the mayor of the Miami-Dade district, Daniella Levine Cava, had previously said.

Residents of the Surfside neighborhood in the US state of Florida were asked to stay in their homes before the blast and to keep doors and windows closed to protect them from dust and small particles. The search and rescue operation in the rubble, under which people are still buried, was suspected, had previously been interrupted. It should start up again after the blast and be widened.

Demolition preferred due to tropical storm

After the accident, the residents of the still standing part of the building were no longer allowed to go back to their apartments for security reasons – not even to take out personal items before the demolition. The demolition was finally preferred due to concerns about the stability of the ruins due to an approaching tropical storm. Extensions of the storm “Elsa” with possibly violent gusts of wind and heavy rain were expected in southern Florida.

The residential complex with around 130 residential units collapsed on June 24 for reasons that were still unclear. Since then, detection dogs, special cameras and heavy equipment have been used to search for victims almost around the clock. 24 dead have now been recovered. More than 120 people are still missing, although it is unclear how many of them were actually in the building at the time of the accident.