Florida condo collapse: Female voice was heard during initial rescue efforts, says official | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Florida condo collapse: Female voice was heard during initial rescue efforts, says official

By | Edited by Kunal Gaurav, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Jul 01, 2021 11:06 PM IST

The search and rescue operation has stretched into the eighth day after the 12-storey Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed last week.

While the chance of finding any survivor in the Florida condominium collapse is getting slimmer with every passing day, the fire rescue chief of Miami-Dade County said that rescuers did hear signs of life during their initial efforts. The search and rescue operation has stretched into the eighth day after the 12-storey Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed last week.

Rescue efforts at the site of the partially collapsed building were halted Thursday out of concern about the stability of the remaining structure.(AP)
Rescue efforts at the site of the partially collapsed building were halted Thursday out of concern about the stability of the remaining structure.(AP)

During a news conference on Thursday, Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky was asked about a female voice that was heard in the initial hours of the search and rescue operation. Cominsky said that the rescuers heard a woman’s voice for several hours from underneath the rubble until she could no longer be heard.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"They were searching for a female voice, which we heard for several hours...eventually, we didn't hear her voice anymore," said Cominsky.

“Eventually we didn't hear her voice anymore, we continued to search,” he said. “Again… that's emphasizing the magnitude of what we're going through,” he added.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday arrived in Florida to offer comfort to the families of those who died in the collapse or remain missing after the condominium collapse. At least 18 deaths have been confirmed after six more bodies were found in the rubble, including two children, aged 4 and 10. Another 145 people remain missing.

“This is life and death,” Biden said during a briefing. “We can do it, just the simple act of everyone doing what needs to be done, makes a difference.”

“There’s gonna be a lot of pain and anxiety and suffering and even the need for psychological help in the days and months that follow," he said. "And so, we’re not going anywhere.”

The rescue efforts were halted on Thursday after crews noticed widening cracks and up to a foot of movement in a large column, raising concern about the stability of the remaining structure, said Cominsky.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On