After the collapse of a high-rise in Florida: the building is to be completely torn down

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View of the partially collapsed skyscraper in Surfside

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Mark Humphrey / dpa

More than a week after the partial collapse of a residential complex in the US state of Florida, more bodies were discovered in the rubble.

Rescue forces found the two dead on Friday, said the mayor of the Miami-Dade district, Daniella Levin Cava, in the evening.

This brings the official death toll to 22.

126 people were still missing, although it is unclear how many of them were actually in the twelve-story building in Surfside near Miami at the time of the accident.

Two more bodies were discovered on Thursday, including that of the seven-year-old daughter of a firefighter.

The part of the building that is still standing is to be demolished as the work continues, as announced by Levin Cava.

You have signed a corresponding order.

It is therefore certain that all residents will lose their apartments.

The building poses a threat to public health and safety, Levin Cava explained the decision.

"We know that the building is not stable and has to be demolished."

Approaching hurricane endangers the works

The authorities in Miami are also watching with great concern the development of Hurricane Elsa, the foothills of which could hit the Florida coast in the coming days.

"It's too early to know if we're in danger," Levin Cava said.

Experts fear that the wind could cause the remaining ruined building to collapse.

The mayor emphasized, however, that demolition before the storm was impossible.

The search for buried victims continues to have top priority.

In the past few days, several hundred rescuers have been on duty around the clock - with sniffer dogs, special cameras, listening instruments and heavy equipment.

"It's so unbearable for everyone," said Levin Cava of the uncertainty and suffering of the relatives.

The building with around 130 residential units had partially collapsed on the night of June 24th for reasons that were still unclear. The misfortune surprised people in their sleep. US President Joe Biden visited the site on Thursday. He promised a thorough investigation into the incident. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown. In 2018, however, an appraisal had already found “major structural damage” to the building, which was completed in 1981, including major structural defects in the building's concrete.

On Friday, a residential building in the city of North Miami Beach about ten kilometers from the accident site was evacuated due to safety concerns.

According to local media, an inspection of the Crestview Towers residential complex revealed risky defects in the construction and its electrical system.

The city administration emphasized that the evacuation of the building was a precautionary measure.

After the accident in Surfside, the authorities began to inspect similar high-rise apartment buildings.

irb / AFP / dpa