Partial building collapse near Miami
Miami-Dade Regional Rescue Manager Jason Richard told that as rescuers entered the pile of debris, building engineers were working to determine what areas were safe to enter and what additional equipment was needed to make sure the building did not change or descend on rescuers.
"So as we walk through the middle of the building, we are constantly on the lookout, making sure there is no movement, all the debris we are removing, we have to pick it up, making efforts to stabilize the building, inches by inch," said Richard, who helps oversee the rescue operations at the collapsed condo building in Surfside.
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Richard said the search started on a garbage can, rescuing people who were slightly trapped. After that the search moved to areas where they heard noises, and firefighters followed the noises and rescued people seeking help. The search then moved to a car park.
Richard said rescuers used dogs from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and the Florida Task Force One, as well as hearing aids to search for survivors. Staff also stop to pick up piles of rubbish, listening to any sounds, tapes, or voices.
"So from time to time we will suspend all our activities, and then everyone will be quiet and listen," Richard told CNN. “That, by encountering dogs walking over a pile of rubbish, regularly, and hearing aids. We have cameras that can be punched in concrete slabs and then inserted into other small empty spaces so that we can see in corners and small areas too. ”
According to Richard, despite the “pancake” collapse, as the slides of concrete slides and slide down, they form a void.
"We therefore hope that we will find patients in those spaces and identify the things that do not matter and that are the areas that we are focusing on in our efforts," he said.
Depending on where they were searching and the strength of the operation, firefighters could change in 15 minutes or less, Richard said. In a parking garage, for example, shifts in less than 15 minutes due to water, smoke and other objects in the area.
Currently, about 30 firefighters are conducting the search and rescue, according to the deputy chief.
"So as we walk through the middle of the building, we are constantly on the lookout, making sure there is no movement, all the debris we are removing, we have to pick it up, making efforts to stabilize the building, inches by inch," said Richard, who helps oversee the rescue operations at the collapsed condo building in Surfside.
Richard said the search started on a garbage can, rescuing people who were slightly trapped. After that the search moved to areas where they heard noises, and firefighters followed the noises and rescued people seeking help. The search then moved to a car park.
Richard said rescuers used dogs from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and the Florida Task Force One, as well as hearing aids to search for survivors. Staff also stop to pick up piles of rubbish, listening to any sounds, tapes, or voices.
"So from time to time we will suspend all our activities, and then everyone will be quiet and listen," Richard told CNN. “That, by encountering dogs walking over a pile of rubbish, regularly, and hearing aids. We have cameras that can be punched in concrete slabs and then inserted into other small empty spaces so that we can see in corners and small areas too. ”
According to Richard, despite the “pancake” collapse, as the slides of concrete slides and slide down, they form a void.
"We therefore hope that we will find patients in those spaces and identify the things that do not matter and that are the areas that we are focusing on in our efforts," he said.
Depending on where they were searching and the strength of the operation, firefighters could change in 15 minutes or less, Richard said. In a parking garage, for example, shifts in less than 15 minutes due to water, smoke and other objects in the area.
Currently, about 30 firefighters are conducting the search and rescue, according to the deputy chief.
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