Miami death toll rises to five with 156 still missing in rubble of collapsed building

The death toll from the partial collapse of a US apartment building has risen to five after rescue crews found another body in the rubble near Miami.

Key points:
The Miami-Dade mayor announced the fifth confirmed fatality
She says 156 people are still unaccounted for but rescuers have other found human remains
Rescue workers are scouring debris, searching for any survivors
Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the latest confirmed death at an evening news briefing on Saturday.

She said the identification of three bodies had lowered the number of unaccounted residents to 156, adding that crews had also discovered other unspecified human remains from Thursday’s disaster.

The remains are being sent to the medical examiner, with officials saying they are also gathering DNA samples from family members to help identify them.

A high shot of a collapsed building next to beach alongside skyscrapers
Chaplain Towers South immediately after its collapse on Thursday morning.(Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies)
Throughout the day, rescue workers scoured the mountain of debris at Chaplain Towers South with trained dogs and sonar, searching for any survivors.

“Our top priority continues to be search and rescue and saving any lives that we can,” Ms Cava said.

Fire hampers rescue efforts
But crews had to fight flames in the debris during the day.

At one point, a fire hose blasted one of the lower floors on the north side of the tower as white smoke or steam streamed out.

A bitter, sulphur-like smell hung in the air.

Miami building rescue efforts
Rescue personnel are continuing their search through rubble for survivors.(Reuters: Marco Bello)
“The stench is very thick,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.

A crane removed pieces of debris from the 10-metre pile in the Florida city of Surfside and scores of rescuers used big machines, small buckets, drones, microphones and their own hands to pick through the rubble.

‘My Mom is a fighter’
A young tattooed woman places a flower on a memorial fence showing girl’s photograph.
Family members in Miami haven’t given up hope of finding survivors.(Reuters: Maria Alejandra Cardona)
Among those awaiting word of loved ones was Rachel Spiegel, whose mother Judy Spiegel, 66, lived on the sixth floor.

Speaking beside her siblings, she said, “we’re trying to hold it together”.

“I know my mom is a fighter. I know she loves us,” Ms Spiegel said.

“I know she doesn’t want to give up. So, you know, it’s day three, so it’s hard.”

President Joe Biden said via Twitter that he had spoken with Mr DeSantis to offer assistance.

“My heart is with the community of Surfside as they grieve their lost loved ones and wait anxiously as search and rescue efforts continue,” Mr Biden tweeted.

Authorities announced they were beginning an audit of buildings nearing their 40-year review — like the fallen Champlain Towers South — to make sure they’re safe.

Cause of collapse still unknown
The mayor asked other cities in the county to join the building review and said there would be state and federal funding to help.

Federal officials have joined local and state authorities at the site, Mr DeSantis said.

He added that a nearby “sister building” of the collapsed tower is also being looked at because it was built at the same time and with the same designer.

While officials said no cause for the building’s collapse had been determined, Mr DeSantis said a “definitive answer” was needed in a timely manner.

Video showed the centre of the building appearing to fall down first, followed by a section nearer to the beach.

AP