By Hannatu Sadiq
A multi-storey residential building in the South Florida community of Surfside, partially collapsed early Thursday.
The unfortunate incident which happened before 2 a.m. ET, is reported to have killed at least one person and spark an intense search and rescue effort in the debris field.
Circulating video from the scene shows a side of the 10 story-building falling, with huge piles of rubble and a large number of first responders helping others to evacuate the standing portions of the building.
Rescuers helped a boy from the debris, a witness said.
One person has died, and at least 10 others were treated on the scene, Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett said.
“This is a horrific catastrophe. In the United States, buildings just don’t fall down,” Burkett said.
Kimberly Morales told CNN she lives in the building across the street from the collapse and was awakened by alarms going off and pounding on her door.
“I woke everyone up in the room because when I looked out the window, I saw everyone outside. I told everyone to hurry up and leave the building,” she told CNN.
Morales said she didn’t hear the collapse but when she went outside, she saw a significant portion of the building was missing. She’s now in a community center with other evacuees, she said.
The building was undergoing roof work, but it’s unknown whether this was a factor in the collapse, the mayor said.
More than 80 rescue units have responded to the scene — 8777 Collins Avenue — a few miles north of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
