A South Florida apartment building that was destroyed by flames last week — leaving more than 40 residents without a home — is on the brink of “imminent” collapse, officials said. As a precaution, the city of Miami will demolish the structure on Tuesday.
The city’s announcement Monday comes a week after Juan Francisco Figuero set fire to Temple Court Apartments, a four-story complex, after shooting a worker there, Miami police said. It took 126 people to extinguish the flames, and 43 people – including many low-income elderly people – were displaced.
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the June 10 fire was one of the worst in the city’s history.
The city of Miami noted that the apartment complex will be demolished for two reasons: the fire and heavy rains in South Florida in recent days.
“The building has sustained severe damage, with the upper floors of the two wings currently supporting debris from the collapsed roof,” the city said. “These floors have also been exposed to the weight of recent rainfall, further exacerbating an already dangerous condition.”
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Officials warn the situation is so precarious that “significant winds” could cause walls to collapse. Residents are not allowed to collect personal items due to the ‘serious safety risk’.
The demolition starts at 7am
