Building Collapse in Miami and What We Can Learn from the Incident

A recent incident shook the real estate market in the US. In Surfside, Florida, a condo building collapsed on Thursday, 24th June 2021. So far, five people have died, but over 150 people are still missing, and chances to find people alive now are quickly fading. This is one of the biggest disasters in recent times. It has put a question mark on how big apartments and huge complexes are being built without proper renovation and major structural changes/adjustments even after 40 years have passed. 

Miami is not known as one of the major cities having lots of condo complexes. But small flats and apartments are in abundance, and the condo complex in question was around 40 years old. This gives us an idea about the gross negligence of the people at the helm of the affairs. So, what can be learnt from this so that incidents like this do not happen in the future? Let us dwell deep into this topic to make things happen.

Reasons for the Incident 

The incident occurred at the Champlain Towers South, a 12 story Beachfront condominium building located in the Miami suburb of Surfside, in Florida. The buildings went down with a loud noise, and people nearby thought of a lightning strike or an earthquake. Such can be the effect of calamities like these as the collapse of the building was recorded by the CCTV footage, and it is not a pretty sight.

There were 136 units in the building, and over 55 completely collapsed in the incident. Up to 11 people so far have been rescued, but firefighters are losing hope as the time is slipping away quickly, diminishing the chances of finding any people alive. Although there have been students in which people have been found alive after 2-3 weeks, those were, of course, miracles, and that happens very rarely. 

The Land of the Building

It has been reported that the building was built on marshy lands, which was reclaimed from the sea.  That can be confirmed only after completing a thorough investigation, but so far, this is what looks like the likely cause as the land beneath the building may not be strong enough to hold the building. 

Another report has surfaced that the building is due to a major structural renovation to last the test of time. While 40 years is not a huge period so that any building would need such a structural change or something drastic, this can be a factor in the collapse. Only time will tell what caused the collapse and who was responsible for the loss of lives and real estate for the owners. 

What Holds for the Future?

After the initial few days of any incident like this, fear is the most prominent factor as the incident is still fresh in people's minds. Everyone looks forward to the official report about what has happened and what could have been done to avoid the incident. Especially in this city and in and around Miami, this will have major consequences for all of the buildings, especially near the beachfront and built on marshy land.

The building was undergoing inspection and recertification as 40 years of its construction had been completed. A major error in the pool deck was observed in a report that has been resurfaced recently. The 2017 report talks about some major structural changes that may have let the water soften the bases and the structure under the land. The sinking of several thousand points in Miami and its suburbs is also a factor that is being considered.  The land is sinking at a rate of around 1 mm/year, but some points are sinking at a much faster rate at around 3.8 mm/year, which is a cause of concern. 

Over to you

Do you have any experience of any such incidents and know anyone who has been directly affected? If you want to know more about this incident or offer your valuable feedback, you are more than welcome. Please use the comments section below to reach me.