Death toll rises to 11 in Florida condo collapse
 
 
Two more bodies were found in the rubble of a partially collapsed 12-story residential building in Florida on Monday, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11.
The Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside collapsed last Thursday morning, and Monday was the fifth day of search and rescue operations. There are still 150 people unaccounted for, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a Monday press conference that the numbers are "very fluid and they will change." She promised there will be a "thorough and full investigation of what led to this tragic event. We are going to get to the bottom of what happened here. Right now, our top priority is search and rescue."
About 55 of the building's 136 units were destroyed in the collapse, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Raide Jadallah said on Monday, adding that rescuers are digging through "rubbles of concrete the size of basketballs, the size of baseballs." Crews haven't been able to make it to the bottom of the pile yet, but Jadallah said cameras that were lowered in show that there are air pockets were people could be trapped. There are more than 80 rescuers working at a time, searching through humidity and rain, and an underground sonar system is also aiding in efforts to find victims.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Champlain Towers South was built in the 1980s, and was undergoing roof work, Surfside officials said. A 2018 structural field survey found the waterproofing below the condo's pool deck and entrance drive was failing and causing "major structural damage to the concrete structural slab below these areas." Read more at ABC News.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
- 
 5 ballsy cartoons about the new White House ballroom 5 ballsy cartoons about the new White House ballroomCartoons Artists take on the White House Disneyland, a menu for the elites, and more 
- 
 ‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’ ‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day 
- 
 How climate change poses a national security threat How climate change poses a national security threatThe explainer A global problem causing more global problems 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
- 
 Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages 
- 
 Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million 
- 
 Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland 
- 
 Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June 
