159 individuals remain unaccounted for following the Champlain Towers South disaster
As of Saturday morning, no new updates have been provided regarding the number of survivors from the devastating collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida, which occurred overnight on Thursday. Rescue teams are actively working to locate 159 individuals who remain unaccounted for, while four fatalities have been confirmed.
One of the significant challenges hindering search operations is a fire burning deep within the rubble, complicating efforts to locate any potential survivors. Authorities are currently focused on identifying the source of the fires while simultaneously seeking methods to continue their search in such hazardous conditions.
The number of missing persons is expected to rise as officials warn that the situation is still evolving. Meanwhile, a researcher from Florida International University has disclosed that the building had been sinking into the ground since the 1990s, raising further concerns about the safety of similar structures.
Firefighters successfully rescued 35 individuals from the wreckage of the 12-story building, located just six miles north of Miami, during the early hours of the tragedy.