Officials halt search-and-rescue efforts at site of collapsed Florida condo building after hearing cracking noises
The massive search-and-rescue operation at the partly collapsed Surfside, Florida condo building was halted early Thursday.
Officials fear the rest of the still-standing structure could collapse.
Rescuers reportedly heard cracking noises early Thursday.
The massive search-and-rescue operation among the rubble at the partly collapsed Surfside, Florida condo building was halted early Thursday out of fears that the rest of the still-standing structure could collapse, officials said.
"As many of you have already seen we were forced to halt operations on the collapse in the early hours of the morning due to structural concerns about the standing structure," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine said during a press briefing Thursday morning.
Cava explained, "We're doing everything we can to ensure that the safety of our first responders is paramount and to continue our search-and-rescue operation as soon as it's safe to do so."
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived in Surfside Thursday to thank first responders and meet with the families impacted by the deadly collapse.
"I want to stress that President Biden's visit today will have no impact on what happens at this site," Cava said. "The search-and rescue operations will continue as soon as it is safe to do so. The only reason for this pause is concerns about the standing structure."
Search-and-rescue operations at the site of the crumbled 12-story Champlain Towers South on Collins Avenue were temporarily stopped at 2:11 a.m. "due to additional concerns for building stability," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Alan Cominsky said.
The halting of the operations was based on the assessment of several on-site structural engineers, he said.
Cominsky explained that concerns included "6 to 12 inches of movement in a large column hanging from the structure that could fall and cause damage to the support columns in a subterrane garage area."
There were also concerns of "slight movement in the concrete floor slabs on the south side of the structure in the north and south corner of the building that could cause additional failure of the building," he said.
Additionally, there was "movement in the debris pile immediately adajcent to the south side of the structure."
Officials told ABC News that rescue crews working at the site of the catastrophe reported hearing cracking sounds early Thursday in part of the condo building that's still standing and had to investigate whether the rest of the structure would collapse.
Nearly half of the oceanfront condo building suddenly came crumbling to the ground on June 24 at around 1:30 a.m. while residents inside slept.
Officials said that 18 people, including two children, have been confirmed dead. More than 140 people remain unaccounted for.
Since search-and-rescue efforts began immediately after the collapse, officials have warned of the danger of the situation.
"We're going to provide whatever resources they need to be able to allow the searches to continue," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
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