‘Big concerns’ over Florida apartment near collapsed Miami building | Miami apartment collapse

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Florida officials said they had “significant concerns” about the structural integrity of another apartment complex near the Champlain Towers South building, which collapsed nearly two weeks ago, killing at least 36 people.

Charles Burkett, Mayor of Surfside, said Tuesday that a review is being conducted at Champlain Towers North, the sister complex of the 12-story condo tower, which still stands near the ruins.

Burkett told reporters that Towers North “is essentially the same building, built by the same developer at the same time, with the same plans, and possibly with the same materials” as the Towers South building.

“Since we don’t know why the first building fell, we have major concerns about that building and the residents in it,” he said.

Forecasters said the storm could turn into a hurricane again before it descends between Tampa Bay and Big Bend and crosses northern Florida.

Officials are working with the Champlain Towers North Building Council to gauge the risk of a repeat collapse on the building.

“We’re going to do everything we can to look at those structural systems including the ground-penetrating radar, the columns, the girders, the slabs, and try to put our arms around what might happen, what did happen,” Burkett said.

However, Burkett says he remains uneasy about the safety of the building. “We have some concerns, not just some, but we have deep concerns about this building especially given that we don’t know what happened there, but our engineer is actively working on it, as is our town official.”

The death toll in Towers South rose to 36 on Tuesday, after eight more victims were discovered. Three children were confirmed among the dead, and 109 people remained missing.

Recovery efforts in Surfside, not far from Miami, intensified on Tuesday due to the threat of severe weather, as Tropical Storm Elsa began to batter Florida. While the storm’s current path likely spared the southern part of the state, heavy rain was expected at Surfside as Elsa strengthened.

In late June, after the collapse, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava ordered all apartment buildings that were at least 40 years old and five stories or more in check.

As for Surfside, Burkett said he is currently responding to inquiries from large buildings in the city, and “advises them that they should do a full structural review of their systems.”

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