Four More Bodies Found As Search Accelerates After Demolition Of Surfside Condo

https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-miami-area-condo-collapse/2021/07/05/ [login to see] /more-bodies-found-as-search-accelerates-after-demolition-of-surfside-condo
Four more bodies have been recovered from the ruins of the collapsed condo tower in Surfside, Fl., bringing the total death toll to 28. A total of 117 individuals remain unaccounted for, according to authorities leading the search and rescue operation.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Miami-Dade County mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that the demolition of the rest of Champlain Towers South "was executed exactly as planned" on Sunday night, and that it would allow rescue teams to work on a section of the collapsed building that was previously inaccessible.

"Truly, we could not continue without bringing this building down," Levine Cava said. "The area closest to the building was not accessible, due to the enormous risk to the team of first responders, because of the instability of the building."

According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the newly accessible section of rubble is from a part of the building where many bedrooms were located, and may contain the remains of many victims. The building collapsed in the middle of the night.

Authorities had been concerned that an approaching tropical storm might topple the standing part of the building onto the section that had already collapsed.