Firefighter's 7-year-old daughter among victims of Florida condo collapse; death toll rises to 20

MSN ^ | 2 JULY 2021 | Christine Fernando, Wendy Rhodes and Rick Neale

[Red Badger]

SURFSIDE, Fla. — A 7-year-old daughter of a Miami firefighter was among two additional bodies found overnight in the rubble of the collapsed condo building outside Miami, raising the death toll to 20 with 128 people still missing.

"This tragedy has haunted so many of us because so many of us know somebody who was in the building or affected by this tragedy," City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Friday at a news conference. "Now, not only do we know someone, but this is someone who is a member of our family, of our fire family."

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called the night "uniquely difficult" for first responders.

[livius]

This is so sad...not that any similar disaster isn’t sad, but it seems just so random. No bombing, no war. No corruption, such as NYC style bribing of building inspectors, seems to have been involved. Just somehow everybody assumed that the maintenance was okay, they knew the HOA was arranging for a more extensive project, the engineers were cool with it, etc.

All of this was being done, but obviously not to the right extent or with any urgency.

This will be like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. It will result in massive changes to building code, inspectors, criteria, and just about anything else you can imagine. And expect to see some at least temporary orders for people to leave their buildings.

Inland Orlando has already declared that one building must be evacuated. I think this is overkill, but it might wake people up.

The most dangerous places are those where there’s a lot of sea water. I live in Coastal Florida and I have seen how even a fairly brief flooding with seawater can destroy metal, so I think there will be a reevaluation of materials as well.

[Red Badger]

I live in Coastal Florida as well. Salt water intrusion into reinforced concrete is a real hidden danger. The salt leeches into the concrete and attacks the rebar, totally unseen and unnoticed until cracks start appearing ON THE SURFACE. By then, it’s too late.

We have several major bridges that are in need of replacement because of cracks and they are over their 50 year time limit......................................

[CodeToad]

Actually, none of that is true. The residents were told of the $15 million repair bill and said no to it. They knew the dangers. They understood the urgency. They simply could not afford it or didn’t want to pay it. They paid with their lives instead.

[FreedomPoster]

Yes, it was going to be something like a $100,000 a unit assessment and they kicked the can down the road. Fatal decision.

[SE Mom]

This is typical of the way news is being reported these days. I’ve read two separate stories by major news organizations- one stating the father was not present when his daughter was found- the other stating he was on the team that discovered her.

Regardless- this is a nightmare for South Florida. Except for lawyers.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I think we are going to see a lot more of this. It is one thing when the concrete is made from good sand and the only problem associated with salt is if/when the building is flooded.

Currently there is an even worse problem. There is a dearth of sand, and some builders are dredging the beaches and seas for sand. These builders do not take the time to wash the sand of all the salt and so the concrete begins life with salt already immersed inside ready to start attacking whatever rebar is inserted into it.

BTW, part of the nonsense regarding the rising seas is actually due to the massive scale of sand removal either from dredging or dams preventing the natural deposit of silt at water's edge.

[shanover]

But pudding Joe said there is a silver lining.

[gcparent]

There were renters in that building.

[proud American in Canada]

One of the tragic things about this story is that the firefighter who pulled out the little girl’s body was her father.

[FR_addict]

“Actually, none of that is true. The residents were told of the $15 million repair bill and said no to it. They knew the dangers. They understood the urgency. They simply could not afford it or didn't want to pay it. They paid with their lives instead.”

A woman who made it out from the 6th floor said she bought her condo in December and was never told of any problems.

If there was a need for $15 million dollar repair, then you would think that would be enough to condemn the building. 15 million dollars does not sound like cosmetic repairs.

[Does so]

Pile drivers next door...