What was left of the building in Surfside demolished with a controlled explosion

Demolition specialists collapsed the part of the building in Surfside that was still standing on Sunday night, after hours of planning to place the explosives strategically and ensure their implosion in a controlled manner.

Search and rescue work

, which had been suspended since Saturday afternoon to carry out preparations for the demolition, will resume shortly, as soon as it is determined that it is safe to continue in some areas, as anticipated by the authorities.

Rescuers will wait until "everything is clear" after the demolition and then immediately return to search for traces of the missing persons in the rubble, explained Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Authorities had previously said

the search could resume 15 minutes to an hour after the detonation

.

A crane hovers over the collapsed Champlain Towes South condo tower in Florida moments before the demolition on July 4, 2021.

"We're waiting.

We are ready to go, no matter what time of night, ”Levine Cava said at a news conference Sunday night.

"As an additional precautionary measure, we recommend that residents of the affected areas make sure to close doors, windows and air entry points. Make sure to cover any place where dust can get in. There will be noise and dust in the demolition area." Levin-Cava added.

A group of rescuers near the collapsed building in Surfside, Florida, on July 3, 2021.

"Our top priority is to demolish the building as soon as possible because that is crucial to be able to expand the search and rescue efforts. That will allow us to explore the closest area of ​​the building, as soon as it is demolished and the place is safe, the teams search and rescue will resume operations, "said the official.

In addition, he explained that all state teams monitor the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa, which, according to weather forecasts, will arrive in Florida on Tuesday morning.

"We ask citizens to monitor information about the storm and review their emergency plans ... We are praying to have the least impact on Surfside," said the mayor.

While the demolition operation carries risks, authorities said it could not be avoided because the storm increased

concerns that the remaining structure could topple over,

putting crews below in danger and complicating the search.

Debris from collapsed building in Surfside reveals construction flaws

July 3, 202100: 26

[Rescue operation at Surfside paused as the demolition of the remainder of the partially collapsed building is being prepared]

Rescue work was suspended Saturday afternoon so workers could begin

drilling holes to install explosives in the concrete

of the tower remains, Miami-Dade fire chief Raide Jadallah told them. relatives who were waiting for news of their loved ones who are still missing.

The confirmed death toll is 24, but the whereabouts of 121 people are still unknown.

The Miami-Dade Police Department added Graciela Cattarossi, 48, and Gonzalo Torre, 81, to the list of those killed Saturday night.

Jadallah said suspending the rescue was a necessary safety measure because drilling could cause the structure to collapse.

If that happens, he said, the structure "will just collapse without warning."

A satellite image shows cranes working on search and rescue in the area where the Champlain Towers South building partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida.

[The body of the 7-year-old daughter of a firefighter is rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building in Surfisde]

Authorities promised that the demolition does not mean the end of the search for survivors.

“

I have been part of every body that has been recovered and removed.

The mission is never going to change and is to search for someone alive

, apart from that we are doing a very important job because we are assuring families that they will have an answer, "said Chris Diaz, Miami-Dade firefighters search chief, in an interview with Noticias Telemundo.

In a transmission of the briefing that Jadallah had with the families of the disappeared, a person was heard telling him that it was "devastating" that the search was suspended and asked if rescuers could continue working on the perimeter of the building to not "stopping the operation for so many painful hours."

Tropical storm Elsa loses steam as it advances through the Caribbean

July 3, 202100: 28

[Survivors of the Surfside landslide say "God sent them signs all day"]

There is also concern about belongings and pets that might be inside the debris.

Thousands of people have signed a petition not to demolish the structure due to the possibility that there are still live animals at the collapsed site.

“

There is talk of five cats and dogs, there would also be birds inside.

But the authorities say that they have carried out reviews, at least three, with floor-by-floor drones and they have not found the pets, ”said Cristina Londoño, a correspondent for Noticias Telemundo, from the scene.

“We have a building in Surfside that is tottering.

It's structurally flawed, ”Governor Ron DeSantis said Saturday.

"And while the eye of the storm is unlikely to take that course, gusts could be felt in that area."

“Already on Monday afternoon we can begin to see more frequent bands of rain and strong winds.

That will continue through Tuesday, ”said Miami National Weather Service expert Robert Molleda in an interview with the Miami Herald.

Firefighter finds his deceased daughter under the rubble of a collapsed building in Miami

July 2, 202103: 09

["It was like a horror movie": Survivors of the Surfside collapse tell how they got out of a crack]

The building won't collapse until at least Monday,

Jadallah told the Associated Press.

That estimate was based on the number of holes the demolition team needs to drill, he said, adding that the process must move slowly to avoid premature collapse.

Miami-Dade police will oversee the evacuation of residents from surrounding buildings prior to demolition, Surfside authorities said.

No one will be allowed to stay in the nearby buildings located to the north and south of the collapsed structure.

Ariana Hevia, center, watched the collapsed building in Surfside.

His mother, Cassondra Billedeau-Stratton, lived in that tower and is on the death list.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said officials will resume search and rescue efforts in areas that are "safe to

access as soon as they are cleared

."

Once the structure is demolished, the wreckage will be removed immediately so that rescuers have access to the parking area that represents an area of ​​interest for the search, Jadallah said.

That could give authorities a clearer picture of

the gaps in the rubble and where survivors might be.

With information from AP and Miami Herald