Excavators dig through the remains from the Champlain Towers South building on July 9.
In pictures: Deadly condo collapse near Miami
Excavators dig through the remains from the Champlain Towers South building on July 9.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Updated 1751 GMT (0151 HKT) July 14, 2021

A 12-story residential building partially collapsed in the South Florida community of Surfside on June 24.

Search teams have been sifting through the rubble at Champlain Towers South, which is a few miles north of Miami Beach. A side of the building crashed to the ground, leaving huge piles of debris.

"This is a horrific catastrophe. In the United States, buildings just don't fall down," Surfside Mayor Charles W. Burkett said.

The remaining portion of the building was demolished on July 4.

The cause of the collapse is still unknown. A 2018 report raised concerns about structural damage, and a letter sent months before the collapse warned that damage to the building was accelerating.

Wooden hearts with victims' names have been put up at the memorial site near the building's remains.
Wooden hearts with victims' names have been put up at the memorial site near the building's remains.
Carl Juste/Miami Herald/AP
Nuns from the St. Joseph's Catholic Church pray at the memorial site on July 7.
Nuns from the St. Joseph's Catholic Church pray at the memorial site on July 7.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
A member of a search team moves rubble at the site on July 7. Authorities transitioned from search and rescue to search and recovery after determining "the viability of life in the rubble" was low, Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said.
A member of a search team moves rubble at the site on July 7. Authorities transitioned from search and rescue to search and recovery after determining "the viability of life in the rubble" was low, Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said.
Al Diaz/AP
Workers gather for a moment of silence and prayer after it was announced that rescue efforts would transition to a recovery operation.
Workers gather for a moment of silence and prayer after it was announced that rescue efforts would transition to a recovery operation.
Jose A Iglesias/Pool/Getty Images
A member of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue hugs victims' family members and friends at the memorial near the collapsed building.
A member of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue hugs victims' family members and friends at the memorial near the collapsed building.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Crews work at the site of the collapsed building on July 6.
Crews work at the site of the collapsed building on July 6.
Andrew West/The News-Press/Imagn Content Services
Members of a search-and-rescue team comb through the debris on July 5.
Members of a search-and-rescue team comb through the debris on July 5.
Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/AP
A memorial is seen near the spot where the building used to be. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/04/us/miami-dade-building-collapse-sunday/index.html" target="_blank">The rest of the building was demolished</a> on July 4 so that authorities could continue to look for survivors safely, officials said.
A memorial is seen near the spot where the building used to be. The rest of the building was demolished on July 4 so that authorities could continue to look for survivors safely, officials said.
Saul Martinez/Getty Images
A controlled explosion brings down the unstable remains of the building on July 4.
A controlled explosion brings down the unstable remains of the building on July 4.
Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images
A woman cries as she watches the rest of Champlain Towers South be demolished.
A woman cries as she watches the rest of Champlain Towers South be demolished.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
People watch a cloud of dust form as the rest of the building is demolished.
People watch a cloud of dust form as the rest of the building is demolished.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Karol Casper places a flower on the memorial wall set up near the building.
Karol Casper places a flower on the memorial wall set up near the building.
Seth Harrison/USA Today Network
People stop at a makeshift memorial near the site.
People stop at a makeshift memorial near the site.
Carl Juste/Miami Herald/AP
Search-and-rescue personnel work at the site on July 2.
Search-and-rescue personnel work at the site on July 2.
Mark Humphrey/AP
Residents of the Crestview Towers Condominium carry their belongings <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/us/north-miami-crestview-condo-building-ordered-closed/index.html" target="_blank">as they leave their building </a>in North Miami Beach, Florida, on July 2. The building, about 6 miles from Surfside, was deemed to be structurally and electrically unsafe based on a delinquent recertification report for the almost 50-year-old building. The city said the move was out of an "abundance of caution," as area authorities check high-rise condo buildings following the Surfside collapse.
Residents of the Crestview Towers Condominium carry their belongings as they leave their building in North Miami Beach, Florida, on July 2. The building, about 6 miles from Surfside, was deemed to be structurally and electrically unsafe based on a delinquent recertification report for the almost 50-year-old building. The city said the move was out of an "abundance of caution," as area authorities check high-rise condo buildings following the Surfside collapse.
Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a memorial near the partially collapsed building on July 1. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/01/politics/joe-biden-south-florida-visit/index.html" target="_blank">Biden traveled to Surfside</a> to console families still waiting on news of their loved ones. Those meetings were closed to the press.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit a memorial near the partially collapsed building on July 1. Biden traveled to Surfside to console families still waiting on news of their loved ones. Those meetings were closed to the press.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
A Coast Guard boat patrols the water ahead of Biden's visit.
A Coast Guard boat patrols the water ahead of Biden's visit.
Mark Humphrey/AP
NBA basketball player Udonis Haslem, left, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava arrive to pay their respects at a memorial near the building on June 30.
NBA basketball player Udonis Haslem, left, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava arrive to pay their respects at a memorial near the building on June 30.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Search-and-rescue teams look through the rubble of Champlain Towers South on June 29.
Search-and-rescue teams look through the rubble of Champlain Towers South on June 29.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/AP
People take part in a twilight vigil near the building on June 28.
People take part in a twilight vigil near the building on June 28.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
More than 3 million pounds of concrete have already been removed during the rescue operation, said Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky.
More than 3 million pounds of concrete have already been removed during the rescue operation, said Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky.
Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images
A woman puts flowers in a barricade as she pays her respects near the building.
A woman puts flowers in a barricade as she pays her respects near the building.
Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images
Passersby look at photos of missing people.
Passersby look at photos of missing people.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Workers search through the rubble on June 26.
Workers search through the rubble on June 26.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Eliagne Sanchez and K. Parker lay flowers on the beach near the partially collapsed building.
Eliagne Sanchez and K. Parker lay flowers on the beach near the partially collapsed building.
Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Smoke rises as rescuers continued to search for survivors on June 26.
Smoke rises as rescuers continued to search for survivors on June 26.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
People stand near the building on June 25.
People stand near the building on June 25.
Maria Alejandra Cardona/Reuters
Mourners light candles on the beach near the building.
Mourners light candles on the beach near the building.
Angel Valentin/The New York Times/Redux
Members of a search-and-rescue team work in the rubble.
Members of a search-and-rescue team work in the rubble.
Giorgio Viera/EFE/Sipa
People pray together on the beach near the collapsed building.
People pray together on the beach near the collapsed building.
Pedro Portal/AP
Firefighters battle a blaze at the collapse site.
Firefighters battle a blaze at the collapse site.
Al Diaz/AP
People hug June 25 as they wait for news about their relatives at a community center in Surfside.
People hug June 25 as they wait for news about their relatives at a community center in Surfside.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP/Getty Images
Rescue personnel search through the building's rubble on June 25.
Rescue personnel search through the building's rubble on June 25.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Toby Fried holds up a picture of her missing brother, Chaim Rosenberg, outside the Surfside Community Center on June 25.
Toby Fried holds up a picture of her missing brother, Chaim Rosenberg, outside the Surfside Community Center on June 25.
Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post/USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA
Rescue workers use a crane to inspect the damage.
Rescue workers use a crane to inspect the damage.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP/Getty Images
Ariana Hevia, center, stands with Sean Wilt near the partially collapsed building on June 25. Hevia's mother, Cassandra Statton, lives in the building.
Ariana Hevia, center, stands with Sean Wilt near the partially collapsed building on June 25. Hevia's mother, Cassandra Statton, lives in the building.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Rescue workers arrive to the scene with dogs on June 25.
Rescue workers arrive to the scene with dogs on June 25.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Faydah Bushnaq, center, is hugged by Maria Fernanda Martinez as they stand on the beach near the building. Bushnaq, who was vacationing in South Florida, stopped to write "pray for their souls" in the sand.
Faydah Bushnaq, center, is hugged by Maria Fernanda Martinez as they stand on the beach near the building. Bushnaq, who was vacationing in South Florida, stopped to write "pray for their souls" in the sand.
Lynne Sladky/AP
The arm of an earth mover is seen during the search operations.
The arm of an earth mover is seen during the search operations.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Rescue personnel work at the site on June 24.
Rescue personnel work at the site on June 24.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Yube Pettingill talks to the media. Two of her family members were still missing.
Yube Pettingill talks to the media. Two of her family members were still missing.
JLNphotography/Sipa USA/AP
This photo was tweeted by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue after the building collapsed.
This photo was tweeted by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue after the building collapsed.
MiamiDadeFire/Twitter
Displaced residents are taken to a nearby hotel in Surfside.
Displaced residents are taken to a nearby hotel in Surfside.
JLN Photography/Shutterstock
The partial collapse left huge piles of rubble and materials dangling from what remained of the structure.
The partial collapse left huge piles of rubble and materials dangling from what remained of the structure.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at center in the red tie, arrives to speak to the media on June 24. "We still have hope to be able to identify additional survivors," DeSantis told reporters near the scene. "The state of Florida, we're offering any assistance that we can."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at center in the red tie, arrives to speak to the media on June 24. "We still have hope to be able to identify additional survivors," DeSantis told reporters near the scene. "The state of Florida, we're offering any assistance that we can."
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Debris dangles from the building on June 24.
Debris dangles from the building on June 24.
David Santiago/Miami Herald/AP
People hug at a family reunification center where evacuees were staying in Surfside.
People hug at a family reunification center where evacuees were staying in Surfside.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
The cause of the collapse wasn't immediately known.
The cause of the collapse wasn't immediately known.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue/SplashNews/Newscom
Jennifer Carr sits with her daughter as they and other evacuees wait for news at the family reunification center in Surfside.
Jennifer Carr sits with her daughter as they and other evacuees wait for news at the family reunification center in Surfside.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Rescue personnel search through the rubble with dogs.
Rescue personnel search through the rubble with dogs.
David Santiago/Miami Herald/AP
Police stand guard on the day the building collapsed.
Police stand guard on the day the building collapsed.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
People on the beach look at the building after the partial collapse.
People on the beach look at the building after the partial collapse.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The building was constructed in 1981, according to online Miami-Dade property records.
The building was constructed in 1981, according to online Miami-Dade property records.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
People lie on cots at the family reunification center in Surfside.
People lie on cots at the family reunification center in Surfside.
Lynne Sladky/AP
The beachfront community is a few miles north of Miami Beach.
The beachfront community is a few miles north of Miami Beach.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
More than 80 rescue units responded to the scene, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
More than 80 rescue units responded to the scene, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Rescue personnel work at the site of the partial collapse.
Rescue personnel work at the site of the partial collapse.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images