Death toll in Florida condo collapse rises to 32 as rescue teams search the rubble through wind and rain

Natalie Musumeci,Ellen Cranley
Updated ·2 min read
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Four additional bodies were recovered from the pile of debris at the site of the collapsed Florida condo tower as search-and-rescue crews worked overnight through the rain and wind from approaching Tropical Storm Elsa, officials said Tuesday.

The discoveries bring the confirmed death toll in the June 24 disaster at the Champlain Towers South in Surfside to 32, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a press briefing. There are 113 "reports of people who are potentially unaccounted for," she added.

Cava noted that out of those 113, "only around 70 of those are people we have been able to confirm were in fact in the building at the time of the collapse."

Search-and-rescue operations continued throughout the night at the site of the catastrophe with teams briefly pausing their mission at around 1 a.m. due to lightning.

"Active search-and-rescue continued through the night and these teams continue through extremely adverse and challenging conditions," Cava said, adding, "Through the rain and wind they continue searching."

Officials expect occasional wind gusts and showers throughout Tuesday as Tropical Storm Elsa nears closer to the Sunshine State.

Search efforts were paused on Sunday as the remaining units of the condo building were demolished. Cava had previously said the demolition of the building would be guided by "the recommendations of the engineers" and would likely take "weeks."

Officials have "significant concerns" about a nearby sister complex, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said on Tuesday. The building, which Burkett said is "essentially the same building," was authorized for resident evacuation and is currently the subject of a "deep dive" review.

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