HE IS DIRECTING PROGRAMS TO CUT
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE TO 15
SEPARATE CITIES.
BUT THIS MORNING, WE HAVE TO
TURN NOW TO SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE
WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS.
AT LEAST ONE PERSON DEAD AFTER
PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF A HIGH-RISE
CONDO AWAITING A NEWS
CONFERENCE FROM MIAMI-DADE
POLICE IN 10 OR 15 MINUTES FROM
NOW.
OVERNIGHT, I WANT TO SHOW YOU
DRAMATIC RESCUES THAT TOOK
PLACE.
MORE THAN 80 FIRE RESCUE UNITS
RUSHING TO THE SCENE EARLY THIS
MORNING.
WITNESSES AND SURVIVORS
DESCRIBING A SCENE OF TERROR AND
ABSOLUTE CONFUSION.
>> A WEIRD SOUND, COULD HAVE
BEEN THUNDER, BUT DIDNT SOUND
LIKE THUNDER, WE FELT THE
BUILDING SHAKE.
I SAW A PLUME OF SMOKE COMING
UP, VERY UNUSUAL SHAPE.
EVERYTHING ABOUT IT WAS UNUSUAL.
I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY
APARTMENT, IT LEADS TO A LONG
HALLWAY, AND ALL I SAW WAS
DEBRIS.
DECIDED TO GO TO THE BALCONY,
WAVE DOWN FIRE RESCUE.
THEY ARE HEROES.
THEYRE UNBELIEVABLE HUMAN
BEINGS.
THEY CAME UP WITH A LADDER AND
BUCKET AND GOT THE FOUR OF US
DOWN.
>> I WANT TO GO TO KERRY SANDERS
AT THE SCENE.
80 UNITS IN THE BUILDING-- SENT
BUILDING, WHATS GOING ON?
>> THE BUILDING COLLAPSED, YOU
LOOK AT THE BACK SIDE OF IT, IT
PANCAKED.
12 STORY BUILDING, 136 UNITS IN
THERE.
WE BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THEM
WERE OCCUPIED, IF NOT BY
RESIDENTS, PEOPLE HERE ON
VACATION BORROWING APARTMENTS
AND STAYING THERE.
WE KNOW OF ONE FAMILY HERE FROM
ARGENTINA.
A HUSBAND, A WIFE, AND YOUNG
SIX-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER THAT
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES HAVENT
HEARD FROM.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY ANXIOUS
MOMENTS, WAITING TO FIND OUT
NEWS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE EMERGENCY
SIDE THAT RESPONDED HERE.
IF THERES AN UP SIDE, METRO OR
MIAMI-DADE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
WORLD CLASS URBAN SEARCH AND
RESCUE THAT RESPONDED AROUND THE
WORLD.
THEY NOT ONLY HAVE EXPERTISE BUT
THE GEAR AND CAMERAS THEY CAN
PUT IN THERE TO SEE IF THERE ARE
VOIDS WHERE PEOPLE MAY BE
INSIDE.
AT THIS POINT, THE WAITING IS
AGONIZING.
A COMMISSIONER HERE IN SURFSIDE,
A SMALL TOWN IS NORTH OF MIAMI.
UPDATE WHAT YOU KNOW NOW.
>> WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING WAS
WRONG WITH THE BUILDING.
A BUILDING SHOULDNT COLLAPSE
LIKE THAT.
I AM AFRAID FOR OTHER BUILDINGS
IN TOWN.
THIS IS THE SHAM PLAIN SOUTH
BUILDINGS.
THERES A SISTER BUILDING, SHAM
PLAIN NORTH.
LOOKS SIMILAR, BUILT THE SAME
TIME.
I THINK RESIDENTS NEED TO BE
CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF
THEIR BUILDING.
>> THE SEARCH AND RESCUE GOING
ON, NOBODY IS GIVING UP.
I KNOW THEY CONFIRMED ONE DEATH.
THIS PLAYS OUT ALL DAY?
>> THIS WILL PLAY OUT FOR DAYS,
COULD BE WEEKS UNTIL WE KNOW WHO
IS UNDER THE RUBBLE, WHO
SURVIVED, WHO DIDNT SURVIVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNACCOUNTED
FOR, LOT OF FAMILIES CONCERNED.
HOPING THERE ARE SNOW BIRDS THAT
WERENT HERE.
>> HAPPENS IN CHAOTIC MOMENTS,
TRYING TO FIND WHERE PEOPLE ARE
IS DIFFERENT.
THEYRE TAKING PHONE NUMBERS,
THERES EFFORTS.
THIS IS FLORIDA.
HURRICANES HAPPEN.
THERES A SYSTEM IN PLACE WITH
ERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LETS TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE
BUILDING ITSELF.
AT 40 YEARS OLD, HAS IT BEEN
INSPECTED?
WHATS THE STATUS OF THAT?
>> THE BUILDING WAS UP FOR 40
YEAR RECERTIFICATION.
THEY WERE DOING THE PROCESS NOW.
IT IS A ONE YEAR PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THEY WERE DOING THE
ROOF.
>> THE INSPECTOR WAS LAST HERE
WHEN?
>> TOLD HE WAS ON THE ROOF
YESTERDAY.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IS GOING TO
TAKE A LOT OF INVESTIGATING TO
FIND OUT, WE ARE GETTING TO THE
BOTTOM OF IT, RESIDENTS NEED TO
KNOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHE HAS A BUSY DAY, COMMISSIONER
HERE IN SURFSIDE, NORTH OF MIAMI
BEACH.
THE SEARCH AND RESCUE IS UNDER
WAY AS WE SPEAK.
THERE ARE DOGS, LISTENING
DEVICES, CAMERAS, PERHAPS GOING
TO COMPLICATE THE SITUATION,
RAIN IS MOVING IN.