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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents Forced to Evacuate Florida Building Over Structural Crack Almost 4 Years After Surfside Condo Collapse
"I'm running down the stairs saying, 'Oh my gosh, I hope the building doesn't fall down,' " recalled one resident Authorities in Clearwater, Fla. evacuated 60 people from a condo building after cracks in a pillar were spotted Further work to stabilize the building is expected to continue while residents wait to return The incident comes nearly four years after the Surfside condo collapse that killed 98 people About 60 people were evacuated from a Florida condo building as a precautionary measure after cracks were discovered in a pillar, authorities said. On Tuesday, May 6, Clearwater Police Department and Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department stated on social media that the evacuation took place at the South Beach Condos III in the Sand Key neighborhood. 'We're on scene along with [Clearwater Fire and Rescue] at South Beach Condos III at 1460 Gulf Blvd.,' the police posted on X. 'All of the residents have been evacuated as personnel evaluate the structure of the building after cracks were found in a pillar.' ADVERTISEMENT 'We're on scene of a condo building on Sand Key with potential structural issues,' the fire department also posted. 'Evacuations have been completed and the county's technical rescue team is evaluating the situation.' Related: 99 People Remain Missing After Fla. Condo Collapse That 'Felt Like an Earthquake': 'It's Bad' The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Construction workers renovating the building's bottom floor parking garage observed a crack in a concrete column on Tuesday, ABC affiliate WFTS reported, prompting police to respond about 3:55 p.m. local time. 'They deemed that the structure was unsafe and needed to be restabilized,' Jevon Graham, division chief of the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department, said on Tuesday, per CBS affiliate WTSP. ADVERTISEMENT According to the outlet, first responders said the crack was at least 2 feet wide. 'It was getting bigger at this time,' Graham added. 'They feel it's getting stabilized but they still need to support the structure and secure it so it doesn't collapse or break down anymore.' In a news release shared with PEOPLE by the Clearwater Police Department, firefighters and police went door to door to evacuate 60 people from the 12-story building. At the time, they said, the building was 40% occupied. Related: At Least 11 People Dead — Several from the Same Family — After a 4-Story Residential Building Collapsed 'So I'm running down the stairs saying, 'Oh my gosh, I hope the building doesn't fall down,' " resident Aurora Donnelly told NBC affiliate WFLA, explaining that she immediately thought of the 2021 Surfside condo collapse. Per the police, there had been no structural collapse in Sand Key. ADVERTISEMENT Additionally, no injuries were reported during the evacuation, but officials said that no one would be allowed back inside until authorities declare it safe, per Fox affiliate WTVT. A representative from the Clearwater Police Department told PEOPLE on the early afternoon of Wednesday, May 7, that the residents still have not yet been able to return to the building. 'The scene was turned over to the private contractor and engineer around 9 p.m.,' according to Clearwater police's update from Tuesday. 'Clearwater firefighters and other members of the Pinellas County Technical Rescue team helped unload materials that those private construction workers will use to help stabilize the building. That work is expected to continue into Wednesday.' PEOPLE contacted the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department for additional information on Wednesday. Related: Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Thailand, Causing a 30-Story Building to Collapse as Seen in Terrifying Video ADVERTISEMENT Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The evacuation comes nearly four years after the deadly Champlain Towers South condo collapse in Surfside, Fla. on June 24, 2021, when 98 people died in. Two months before the tragedy, the president of the Champlain South Towers condo association warned residents that the deterioration of the building's concrete was "accelerating" — and needed to be dealt with quickly. As CNN reported in 2024, investigators found that the design and construction of some parts of the Champlain, which was built in the 1970s, didn't adhere to standard building code requirements back then. 'It becomes clear that the design and construction did not meet all the safety standards of its day,' Surfside Commissioner Marianne Meischeid told CNN at the time. In 2022, a nearly $1 billion settlement was reached for the families of victims and survivors of the Surfside condo collapse. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clearwater Ferry crash: Firefighters describe rescue efforts after deadly boating incident
The Brief Clearwater firefighters who responded to help Clearwater Ferry crash victims Sunday evening described the rescue efforts in the direct aftermath. More than 40 people were on the ferry when the crash happened, with 10 reported injuries and a 41-year-old father of two, Jose Castro, killed. The operator of the recreational boat, Jannus Live owner Jeffry Knight, stepped down from his role with the venue after the crash. CLEARWATER, Fla. - Clearwater firefighters said they were eating dinner at their fire station when they got a call about a crash between a 37-foot recreational boat and the Clearwater Ferry Sunday evening near the Memorial Causeway Bridge. What they're saying "Multiple calls received, multiple patients, multiple injured, and [we] quickly realize this is going to be something significant," said Lt. Jason Haynor, with Clearwater Fire and Rescue. RELATED: Jannus Live owner steps down after Clearwater Ferry crash leaves 1 dead, 10 injured When Haynor and his crew arrived at the scene, they realized how serious the accident was. Because of the low tide, first responders were able to wade through waste-deep water from the shore to the ferry. "In 20 years, I've had no call like this," Haynor said. "You have people screaming. You have injured. You have parents screaming for their kids, trying to get off the vessel." Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "Obviously, chaos would be like the easiest word to describe it," added Nathan Vasquez, a Clearwater fire medic who was among the first to board the ferry. "If there was any major bleeding that I could stop, I would stop it, triage them and move on to the next patient." The backstory More than 40 people were on the ferry when the crash happened, with 10 reported injuries and a 41-year-old father of two, Jose Castro, killed. PREVIOUS: Clearwater Ferry crash: Jannus Live owner's attorney addresses 'misinformation' as investigation unfolds The first responders said they just wanted to work as quickly as they could to save lives. "When you get a response like this with multiple patients and significant patients, there's so many people that are part of the success of the operation, from command to boots on the ground triaging to the medics doing transport and treatment. I mean it really is a full team effort," Haynor said. "From top to bottom, it really does require everybody being properly trained, equipped, ready to respond. This stuff doesn't go well by accident." READ: Family of Clearwater Ferry crash victim mourns loss as investigation continues: 'We need justice' Dig deeper There were six other people on the recreational vessel. In a letter from his attorney to investigators, the boat's operator, Jeffry Knight, denied speculation he left the scene. His attorney claims his client stayed to help the victims and only left after emergency crews arrived, and his boat was taking on too much water. Knight owned Jannus Live, but an announcement Wednesday said he was stepping down from his position with the concert venue in St. Petersburg. The business, however, will continue operating with its existing management. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
