Elsa Update: Tropical storm watch issued for Florida Keys
Obtained by CNN
By Jason Hanna, Dakin Andone and Aya Elamroussi, CNN
Search and rescue efforts at the partially collapsed South Florida condo will temporarily pause as officials prepare for the demolition of the building’s remaining units, officials said Saturday.
The search and rescue operation paused at 4 p.m., Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news conference Saturday evening. Officials are waiting on instructions from the engineers who are inspecting the site and will resume search and rescue when they are cleared to do so.
Levine Cava did not provide a timeline for the planned demolition, but officials said earlier a crew could demolish the remaining units of Champlain Towers South as soon as Sunday, ahead of the approaching Tropical Storm Elsa. Otherwise, Elsa’s winds, which might reach the area early next week, could topple the structure unsafely, officials said.