12-story Miami-area condo tower collapses

About half of an oceanside apartment tower in Surfside, Florida, collapsed early Thursday morning, prompting a massive search-and-rescue effort from Miami-Dade and Broward County first responders. "We're on the scene so it's still very active," said Surfside Police Sgt. Marian Cruz. "What I can tell you is the building is 12 floors. The entire back side of the building has collapsed." There is no official report of injuries or deaths, "but a firefighter on the scene could be heard saying there are multiple casualties," the Miami Herald reports.
The Champlain Towers South Condo was built in 1981, with more than 100 units, a block north of Miami Beach city limits. A few two-bedroom apartments were currently on the market, listed at between $600,000 to $700,000, police said. You can get a sense of the scene from CBS Miami's drone's-eye view.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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