Children are among the collapsed Miami condo's victims
July 1, 2021, 4:14 am

Collapsed Miami condo

BBC reported that rescuers say the bodies of two children have been found in the rubble of a collapsed Florida tower block, raising the known death toll to 18.

Nobody has been pulled alive from the disaster site since the structure caved in on Thursday.

Rescue teams have been able to build a ramp for a crane to reach areas of the ruined building that they had not been able to access before.

Nearly 150 people are still missing after the collapse last Thursday.

The latest victims to be found have not yet been publicly identified.

Seven days after the collapse in the town of Surfside, north of Miami, officials say they are still hopeful that some survivors could be found trapped in the debris.

BBC reported rescue teams as saying they are working 12-hour shifts as they comb the rubble, despite sweltering heat and high humidity hampering their efforts.

"They are digging as if there are survivors there. They are still remaining hopeful, but it is indeed a terrible tragedy all around," Lt Gov of Florida, Jeanette Nunez, told BBC World News.

Fresh rescue teams are due to arrive from other states, with severe tropical weather expected to hit the area in the coming days.

As well as bad weather, search and rescue teams have also faced fires and falling debris.

An Israeli team helping with the rescue efforts told CNN it had discovered some tunnels large enough for a person, though most of the debris was "very, very tight."

One family confirmed on Wednesday that the 12th person found dead after the collapse was 92-year-old Hilda Noriega.

They said they had lost the "heart and soul" and "matriarch", but would "get through this time by embracing the unconditional love Hilda was known for".

What caused nearly half of the 40-year-old Champlain Towers south block to fall as residents slept in the early hours of last Thursday remains unknown.

But it emerged yesterday that residents had received a letter in April warning them of worsening structural damage to the building.

Lawsuits are already being filed over the disaster, with the latest accusing the block's building association of "reckless and negligent conduct".

Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said she would convene a special grand jury to examine building safety and "what steps we can take to safeguard our residents" from similar disasters in the future.

US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill plan to visit the scene of the tragedy on Thursday. Miami

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Source: BBC

Image source: Reuters-BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”