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The oceanfront apartment building that collapsed near Miami had "major structural damage" to a concrete structural slab below its pool deck that needed to be extensively repaired, according to a 2018 engineering report.
Key points:
- The engineers report said the building needed extensive and costly repairs to fix the systemic issues
- It said the waterproofing under the pool deck had failed and had been improperly laid flat instead of sloped
- The report revealed there was "abundant cracking and spalling” in the parking garage
The report was among a series of documents released by the city of Surfside as rescuers continued to dig through the rubble of the building in an effort to find any of the 159 people who remain unaccounted for after its collapse. At least four people were killed.
The Australian government says despite early fears, no Australians were caught in the apartment building.
While the engineering report from the firm of Morabito Consultants did not warn of imminent danger from the damage — and it is unclear if any of the damage observed was responsible for the collapse — it did note the need for extensive and costly repairs to fix the systemic issues with the building.
It said the waterproofing under the pool deck had failed and had been improperly laid flat instead of sloped, preventing water from draining off.
"The failed waterproofing is causing major structural damage to the concrete structural slab below these areas," the report said.
"Failure to replace the waterproofing in the near future will cause the extent of the concrete deterioration to expand exponentially."
The firm recommended that the damaged slabs be replaced in what would be a major repair.
The report also uncovered "abundant cracking and spalling" of concrete columns, beams and walls in the parking garage.
Some of the damage was minor, while other columns had exposed and deteriorating rebar.
It also noted that many of the building's previous attempts to fix the columns and other damage with epoxy were marred by poor workmanship and were failing.
Beneath the pool deck "where the slab had been epoxy-injected, new cracks were radiating from the originally repaired cracks," the report said.
AP: Lynne Sladky
)Fire slows rescue efforts
Fire has spread amid the rubble as firefighters try to find survivors, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said during a news conference.
“We’re facing very incredible difficulties with this fire,” she said.
“It’s a very deep fire. It’s extremely difficult to locate the source of the fire.”
Scores of rescuers are using machinery, buckets, drones, microphones and their own hands to pick through the mountain of debris that had been the 12-story Champlain Towers South.
Rachel Spiegel was anxious for any update on her missing mother, 66-year-old Judy Spiegel, who lived on the sixth floor.
AP: Lynne Sladky
)"I'm just praying for a miracle," Ms Spiegel said.
"We're heartbroken that she was even in the building."
Jeanne Ugarte was coming to grips with what she feared was a tragic end for long-time friends Juan and Ana Mora and their son Juan Jr, who was visiting his parents in their condo at the tower.
"I know they're not going to find them [alive]," Ms Ugarte said.
"It's been too long."
Congregants prayed at a nearby synagogue where some members were among the missing.
Teenager Jonah Handler was rescued from the rubble hours after the collapse, but his mother, Stacie Fang, died.
Relatives issued a statement expressing thanks "for the outpouring of sympathy, compassion and support we have received".
"There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Stacie," it said.
While officials said no cause for the collapse early on Thursday has been determined, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said a "definitive answer" was needed in a timely manner.
Video showed the centre of the building appearing to tumble down first, followed by a section nearer to the beach.
AP