A look back: One year after South Florida condo collapse

Record ID: 1677954

  • Title: A look back: One year after South Florida condo collapse
  • Date: 22nd June 2022
  • Summary: SURFSIDE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JUNE 24, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING AND DUST CLOUDS BYSTANDERS ON BEACH LOOKING AT BUILDING POLICE MOVING CONES AND TAPE ON BEACH VARIOUS OF DAMAGE TO BUILDING AMBULANCES VARIOUS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING WOMAN TAKING PICTURE OF BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2022 17:31
  • Keywords: Champlain Towers Florida building Florida condo Miami Dade Surfside one year anniversary
  • Location: SURFSIDE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • City: SURFSIDE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001663522062022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Friday (June 24) will mark the one year anniversary of the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people.
    The causes of the collapse are still under investigation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    The confirmed death toll consists of the 97 victims killed outright when the building crumbled in the early hours of June 24, 2021, as residents slept, and one victim who died while hospitalized.
    Following the collapse, the remaining tower of the building had to be demolished ahead of the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa, prompting the suspension of search-and-rescue just 11 days into the efforts.
    In the wreckage of the Champlain Towers South complex in Surfside, workers drilled into columns where small explosive charges were placed to bring the remains of the building down in a small area.
    In the aftermath of the collapse, court documents, along with emails and other records released by officials in Surfside, told a story of repeated concerns about structural problems in the 12-story building, built in 1981, but none suggested it was in danger of falling.
    On June 15, 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced invasive testing and preparation of physical evidence collected from the collapse site as part of its ongoing investigation.
    According to the Institute, the evidence comprised of structural components such as concrete columns from both the collapsed and imploded portions of the building, has been preserved in a secure warehouse in Miami-Dade County.
    The inquiry is not aimed at determining whether there was a criminal act or a violation of regulation but rather to find the technical cause of the collapse.
    Last month, victims of the collapse reached a $997 million settlement with insurers, developers and other defendants in the case.
    The agreement, which still must be finalized and approved by a Miami-Dade County judge, would compensate family members of those who died in the disaster as well as residents who were injured or lost their homes.
    (Production: Gerardo Gomez)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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