Four more bodies were found in the rubble of a partially collapsed Miami-area condominium on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 28, as the remainder of the complex was demolished overnight.
At around 10:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, explosives brought down the rest of the partially collapsed 12-story building at Surfside, which initially collapsed on June 24.
Video footage of the managed explosion shows the structure collapsing and throwing up plumes of smoke. Using a method called “energetic fall,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levin Cava said, the crew placed small, strategically placed small explosives and relied on gravity to bring the building down.
As of Monday morning, Tropical Storm Elsa was near Cuba with sustained winds near 60 mph (100 kph) and was set to churn across the country on its way to Florida. The Cuban Meteorological Institute said it was moving to the northwest at 14 mph (22 kph).
The storm was expected to reach western Florida on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Before demolition, residents of nearby buildings were told they did not need to evacuate, but were instructed to stay indoors and turn off air conditioning because of the dust.
Investigators have not determined what caused the collapse of the 40-year-old complex. A 2018 engineering report found structural deficiencies that are now the focus of inquiries that include a grand jury examination.
All residents of another building, Crestview Towers in North Miami Beach, were told Friday to leave immediately after engineers found serious concrete and electrical problems, officials said.