UPDATE: 6/24/21 - 12pm
(Surfside, FL) -- At least 51 people remain unaccounted for following the early morning collapse of a 12-story building just north of Miami Beach. The Washington Post was told by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman that dozens are presumed missing as they have not checked in with officials or called family or friends.
A massive search and rescue operation is underway right now, and crews are tunneling under the building in a desperate effort to find survivors.
One person has been confirmed dead, 35 others have been rescued. More than 80 rescue teams are scrambling to find people trapped in the oceanside condo tower in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, which has 136 units.
At least one person was killed and two others have reportedly been taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Two people have been reportedly pulled from the rubble alive including a young boy. A total of 35 people have been pulled from the structure so far.
There's no word yet on how many people were living in the building at the time of the incident overnight.
Mayor Charles Burkett said this morning, "This is a horrific catastrophe. In the United States, buildings just don't fall down." He said in no uncertain terms, "It looks like a bomb went off."
Champlain Towers South was built in 1981 and is located near the corner of 88th St. and Collins Avenue collapsed Thursday morning around 2 a.m.
A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue sergeant said the entire backside of the building collapsed into a huge pile of rubble. There's no word on the cause.
Families who can't reach their loved ones can call a Reunification Hotline at 305-614-1819.
Photo: Miami Beach Police Department
A massive rescue operation is underway in Surfside near Miami Beach where a multi-story building has partially collapsed.
The 12 story building is located near the corner of 88th St. and Collins Avenue just north of Miami Beach and reportedly collapsed Thursday morning around 2 a.m.
The Surfside building is reportedly the Champlain Towers South, a 12-story condominium and apartment complex with 130 plus residences that was built in 1981.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed that more than 80 units are being assisted by other fire departments including tactical rescue teams.
There is no word on what might have caused the building to collapse and no word on casualties at this time.