Over 300 People Evacuated at Second Miami Condo Building After Serious Damage is Found

A second Miami condo building has been evacuated after serious structural damage is found. Quick action was necessary with a hurricane moving in and expected to hit by sometime on Monday. The building is close to the Surfside condo building that collapsed last week.

The building was evacuated after inspectors found some serious structural damage. It will be a while before those who have been evacuated will be allowed back in.

Reuters reported:

“All residents of the second building, Crestview Towers, were told to leave immediately after engineers found serious concrete and electrical problems. The move was considered urgent due to the approach of Hurricane Isla, which is forecast to hit Florida as early as Monday.”

A press release from the city stated:

Following the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South on June 24, North Miami Beach immediately launched a thorough review of all condo high-rise buildings to determine if they are in compliance with county and city 40-year recertification process and certified as safe for occupancy. Today, Crestview Towers submitted a recertification report dated Jan. 11, 2021, in which an engineer retained by the association board concluded that the 156-unit building was structurally and electrically unsafe.

North Miami Beach City Manager Arthur H. Sorey III said:

“In an abundance of caution, the City ordered the building closed immediately and the residents evacuated for their protection, while a full structural assessment is conducted and next steps are determined. Nothing is more important than the safety and lives of our residents, and we will not rest until we ensure this building is 100% safe.”

The AP has reported that inspectors are scrutinizing older buildings for dangerous conditions. The building that was just evacuated was built in 1972. Officials are trying to inspect as many buildings as they can before the hurricane hits. The Surfside building that partially collapsed has yielded 24 dead so far with well over 100 people still missing.

The AP reported:

The evacuation comes as municipal officials in South Florida, and statewide, are scrutinizing older high-rises in the wake of the Surfside collapse to ensure that substantial structural problems are not being ignored. Evacuating residents hauling suitcases packed items into cars Friday evening outside the Crestview, which was built in 1972.