Even as the death toll from a collapsed Miami-area condominium rose to 27, officials expressed renewed hope of finding survivors now that the building's demolition is complete and Tropical Storm Elsa is veering away. Before the demolition began at 10.30pm on Sunday (local time), a sophisticated search for family pets employed drones with thermal imaging. First responders used ladders and cranes to place animal traps on balconies and search hiding places in closets and under beds. On Monday afternoon, Tropical Storm Elsa was making landfall on the south coast of Cuba bringing flooding rains, the US National Hurricane Center said. A 2018 engineering report found structural deficiencies that are now the focus of inquiries that include a grand jury examination.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 05, 2021 21:00 UTC