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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Dave Burke

Miami building collapse death toll rises to 78 as 14 more bodies pulled from rubble

The number of lives lost in the Miami building collapse has risen to 78 after a further 14 bodies were recovered, authorities have said.

A total of 62 people remain missing and feared dead in the ruins of the 12-story building in the town of Surfside.

It is not known how many were in the building when it crumbled to the ground on June 24.

The cause of the disaster has yet to be determined.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told a news conference "This is a staggering and heartbreaking number that affects all of us very deeply."

She said 5.89 million kg of debris had been removed from the site in the past two weeks of round-the-clock work.

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said crews have cut the size of the building debris pile from four or five stories to nearly ground level, with some areas at below-ground level.

"So the progress that our search and rescue teams are making is really incredible," Burkett said.

Investigators have not determined what caused the Champlain Towers South to fall apart without warning.

Attention has been focused on a 2018 engineering report that warned of structural problems.

Among those who died was seven-year-old Stella Cattarossi, whose body was found by her firefighter dad.

Stella Cattarossi, seven, was among those who died in last month's tragedy (Stella Cattarossi, seven, was among those who died in last month's tragedy)
Rescuers have been at the scene for the past two weeks working around the clock (via REUTERS)

She was sleeping in next to her mum Graciela when the building collapsed in the early hours.

The girl was found through debris as her dad Enrique Arango, a 10-year veteran of the Miami Fire Rescue department, helped rescuers search through the rubble.

He had been on site with his brother when the rescue team found Stella's body.

Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll said: "When he was made aware that we were close to where his loved one may have been, then he stood side by side with some of his other fellow firefighters.

"We were able to bring her and then at least give him an opportunity to say his farewells."

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