Marta Lavandier/Associated Press
- Officials have "significant concerns" about the structural integrity of the sister complex of the collapsed Florida condo.
- There is currently a "deep dive" review being done on the Champlain Towers North condo building in Surfside.
- There are "significant concerns about that building and the residents in there," Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said.
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Officials have "significant concerns" about the structural integrity of the sister complex to the collapsed Florida condo tower, a local mayor said Tuesday.
There is currently a "deep dive" review being done on the Champlain Towers North condo building in Surfside, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said at a press briefing.
The tower is "essentially the same building, built by the same developer at the same time, with the same plans, probably with the same materials" as the collapsed Champlain Towers South, Burkett added.
"And given we do not know why the first building fell down we have significant concerns about that building and the residents in there," he said.
A massive wing of the 12-story Champlain Towers South suddenly came crashing down on June 24 as residents inside slept. There have been at least 32 people, including three children, confirmed dead from the disaster.
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, officials authorized the voluntary evacuation of the sister building to the partly collapsed condo.
"You know from the very beginning we worked to make sure that those residents have alternative housing if they wanted it. Several of them have taken us up on that offer," Burkett explained.
Burkett said officials are continuing to work with the condominum board of the Champlain Towers North "to make sure that - well we can't make sure - but we're going to do everything we can to look at those structural systems including ground penetrating radar, the columns, the beams, the slabs, and try to get our arms around what may be happening, what did happen."
"But like I said," Burkett added, "We have some concerns, not just some, but deep concerns about that building especially given that we don't know what has happened there, but our engineer is actively working on it, as our town official is."
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.