Given the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa, the authorities of Miami-Dade County in the United States continue to work in advance of the demolition of the Champlain Towers apartment tower in Surfside, which suffered an unexpected and dramatic collapse in the June 24.
Due to the inclusion of this county in the cone of the storm’s trajectory, it has caused the concern of the technical team that coordinates the search for survivors and, as explained by eCounty Fire Chief Alan Cominsky, what remains of the northwest wing of the building should be demolished as soon as possible.
The intention of the authorities is that the work must be completed before it impacts Tropical Storm Elsa. Although the forecast indicates that it could happen on Sunday night, the latest meteorological data that are moving them could provide a margin of up to this Monday night.
On the other hand, the state governor stressed that all the action will be carried out in a controlled manner with explosive charges. This will in no way prevent search and rescue work from being prolonged, as it could even be much safer for workers.
Building instability
Precisely, several days ago it was feared that part of what remains of the property could end up falling due to the instability of the building. Thus, if before the situation was very delicate and worrying, now with the arrival of the storm it is much greater.
Miami-Dade Fire Department Chief, Alan Cominsky, noted that they detected movements of the debris, including a support column in the area of the damaged parking lot that moved between 15 and 30 centimeters from position. He also explained that they should now proceed as soon as possible before the rains and strong winds impact.
The Mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava said this weekend that experts are exploring what is lthe safest way to demolish what is left of the building.
Once the demolition works are completed, the remains will be removed as soon as possible so that the search work can be resumed, understanding that it is running against the clock. Keep in mind that the death toll is 24 people and that there are 121 missing.
The controlled demolition work will be carried out by a Maryland company that has extensive experience in this type of project, such as the demolition of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
Causes of the catastrophe
The main hypothesis that researchers consider as the cause of the catastrophe is related to the remodeling works that had been undertaken in the building. Miami-Dade County Regulations All buildings over 40 years old must undergo extensive renovation work. In that case, the works were focusing on the roof and the terraces. Several witnesses say that “heavy machinery” was being used and “some leaks” had been observed.
Although none of the theories has been discarded, little by little, a 2020 study has gained weight that showed that the building suffered a collapse «very subtle ‘in the 1990s, at a rate of about 2 millimeters per year between 1993 and 1999.
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