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Investigators give insight into possible causes of Surfside condo collapse

Mar 8

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New developments emerged Thursday, March 7, in the investigation into the collapse of the Surfside condo in Miami, Florida, that killed 98 people in June 2021. Engineers examining the event unveiled segments of video footage during a meeting, shedding light on the sequence of events leading up to the collapse.

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Investigators disclosed they are still unable to pinpoint the “initiating event” that triggered the collapse. However, they said that they are making progress toward understanding precisely what caused it.

A panel of engineers revealed discrepancies in the construction of the condo tower section. They noted that while the construction drawings were compliant when the building was constructed in the 1970s, the actual construction failed to meet building code requirements.

Structural issues were also found in the pool deck, columns and concrete strength.

Additionally, investigators interviewed several residents and survivors who reported hearing “knocking” and “hammering” sounds moments before the building crumbled.

Investigators also found inspections of the condo building over the years, crucial for ensuring structural integrity, were conducted by the engineer of record rather than governmental entities.

The investigation remains ongoing. The panel is aiming to submit a final report by fall 2025.

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[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THERE ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SURFSIDE CONDO COLLAPSE THAT KILLED 98 PEOPLE IN JUNE 2021.

ENGINEERS STUDYING THE TRAGIC EVENT RELEASED PORTIONS OF VIDEO FOOTAGE THURSDAY NIGHT DURING A MEETING — SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE COLLAPSE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY STILL CANNOT PINPOINT THE “INITIATING EVENT” THAT TRIGGERED THE COLLAPSE – HOWEVER – THEY EMPHASIZED THEY ARE EDGING CLOSER TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT PRECISELY CAUSED IT.

THE PANEL OF ENGINEERS UNCOVERED DISCREPANCIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER SECTION OF THE CONDO. THEY SAY — WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS WERE COMPLIANT, THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION FAILED TO MEET BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.
INVESTIGATORS ALSO FOUND STRUCTURAL ISSUES IN THE POOL DECK, COLUMNS, AND CONCRETE STRENGTH.

THEY ALSO INTERVIEWED SEVERAL WITNESSES AND RESIDENTS WHO SURVIVED – WHO REPORTED HEARING “KNOCKING” AND “HAMMERING” SOUNDS MOMENTS BEFORE THE BUILDING COLLAPSED.

AND INSPECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS – WHICH ARE CRUCIAL FOR ENSURING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY — WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE ENGINEER OF RECORD, RATHER THAN BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING… THE PANEL AIMS TO FILE A FINAL REPORT BY FALL 2025.