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Death toll rises to 18 as crews pull 6 bodies from Surfside rubble


Despite challenges posed by inclement weather, search and rescue crews continue to comb the rubble of a collapsed condo tower in Surfside, Florida Wednesday. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed six more bodies were pulled from the wreckage, raising the death toll to 18 people following last Thursday’s tragedy. 147 individuals were still missing as of Wednesday night.

“I’ve never seen as many assets in place on that site,” said Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett. “We’ve got heavy, heavy equipment and it’s actively lifting gigantic pieces of concrete out of that pile. We’ve got waves of first responders and rescue people all over the top of that mound, all over the side of that mound, and I’m told underneath that mound.”

“Well, there’s an overwhelming amount of grief,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “There’s just still the apprehension about not knowing for sure, and I know there have been more identifications made today, but rest assured that that those folks are going to be working on that pile and it’s not going to stop and they’re going to they’re going to get answers one way or another.”

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County: “The end of day seven and the search and rescue continues. Since our last briefing, I’m very pained to tell you that we found two additional bodies in the rubble, which brings our total count to 18. Eighteen fatalities. It is also with great sorrow, real pain that I have to share with you that two of these were children aged four and 10. Our community, our nation and the world, we’re all morning with these families who have lost loved ones, and we grieve with them and we lift them up as a community. And we’re so grateful for the support from all of you everywhere as we continue, as we continue to dig through the rubble. One hundred and thirty nine people are now accounted for and 147 are unaccounted for. Our detectives are continuing to verify each and every contact, each and every tip that is received about missing people.”