Videos show tragic aftermath of condo collapse near Miami. ‘Like a bomb went off’

Mike Stunson
·4 min read

Images and video shared on social media early Thursday morning show the devastating aftermath of a partial collapse of a building in Surfside, Florida.

The 12-story oceanfront condo tower near Miami collapsed around 2 a.m. Thursday, leaving at least 10 people injured and one person dead, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett told the Miami Herald.

About 70 of the condo’s 130 apartments were destroyed or damaged, according to Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade Emergency Management.

Horrified reaction poured in from across the nation as images circulated online.

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The collapse of Champlain Towers South Condo was shown in surveillance video obtained by WSVN.

In one woman’s video from inside the condo, you can see the beginning of the collapse and debris falling into her living room.

The cause of the collapse is unknown as of Thursday morning.

One man’s videos show the immediate aftermath of the collapse. He said the building is next to his hotel and he and others in the area were evacuated to a nearby recreation center.

Another man shared video his brother took, saying his family was sound asleep in the hotel feet away from the condo.

“They are sitting on the street in their pajamas with no shoes on after being evacuated,” he said.

Speaking Thursday on the “Today” show, Burkett said of the aftermath, “It looks like a bomb went off, but we’re pretty sure a bomb didn’t go off.”

“The whole building shook like an earthquake,” a resident told an ABC News reporter.

Rescue crews combed through the rubble Thursday to find survivors, including a young boy who was shown being pulled away by firefighters.

Other photos and video show the building in the daylight hours as crews continue rescue efforts and assess damage.

“Everyone who is alive is out of the building,” Rollason told the Miami Herald just after 8 a.m.

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