In this handout image, July 2, 2021, search and rescue workers work at the scene of a Florida condo complex that collapsed in Surfside, Miami.Florida authorities have increased plans to demolish the 12-story condo building that was partially destroyed in Surfside. This is amid fears that Tropical Storm Elsa winds could cause the structure to collapse. Search-and-rescue teams are scouring the rubble for residents still missing.Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor, stated Saturday that experts were currently inspecting the structure and that a contract was signed to demolish Champlain Towers South as quickly as possible.Levine Cava stated, "It is our sincere desire that this can safely be done before the storm so we can direct demolition." "This demolition would preserve and preserve evidence, and allow maximum search and rescue activity to continue."As of Saturday morning, 24 people had died in the collapsed condo building. 124 are still missing. Since the initial hours following the June 24th collapse, no one has been saved.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the building can be taken down in 36 hours after the final plan has been approved. Charles Burkett, Surfside Mayor, said that demolition could take place as soon as Sunday."The fear was the hurricane might take down the building for us and take them down in the wrong place on top of the pile that we have victims," Burkett stated, referring Elsa, which has been downgraded from a tropical storm.Levine Cava signed Saturday morning a local emergency for Elsa. She stated that she was prepared for any potential impacts out of an abundance and caution.Long-term forecast tracks show Elsa moving toward Florida as a tropical hurricane by Tuesday morning. However, some models predict it will make its way up to the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast.Levine Cava had earlier stated that the building would be demolished once engineers have approved next steps. This could take several weeks. Officials have blocked access to the areas of the building that could pose a threat to public safety and health.Levine Cava stated that a demolition expert arrived Friday evening to help the process move faster than expected. Levine Cava stated that engineers and federal, state, and local authorities reviewed the plan, and decided it was the best way forward.Levine Cava stated that the proposed demolition has a narrow footprint, so there are no major impacts on the area or additional evacuations. "We are still going through due diligence."After search-and rescue operations were stopped for most of Thursday due to concern that the structure might fall, the decision was made to demolish the section of the building that is still standing.It is not known what caused the collapse of the building. In 2018, three years after the collapse, an engineering firm examined the condo tower and found that the pool's waterproofing was failing to protect the structure.The report stated that failure to replace waterproofing in the near-future will cause concrete deterioration exponentially.The National Institute of Standards and Technology launched an investigation into the collapse and will provide recommendations on how to improve building safety.Levine Cava requested a 30-day audit for buildings older than 40 years in Miami-Dade County that are at least five stories tall and have not yet completed the recertification process. The county is currently reviewing 14 of these buildings, and 10 that have just started recertification.After an inspection and audit of the building, unsafe electrical and structural conditions were discovered, a condo building in North Miami Beach was shut down and evacuated by more than 300 residents.
