Live updates on death toll and survivors
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Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Sunday that first responders “continued tirelessly throughout the night” in their effort to find survivors of Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida.
Levine Cava told CNN a fire that had been complicating search and rescue efforts was brought under control by noon Saturday.
“So that really supported everyone in the efforts so they’ve continued tirelessly throughout the night,” Levine Cava said.
When asked about how she was dealing with family members who are overwhelmed with anxiety and pain as they await news on their loved ones, Levine Cava said she and other officials are working to keep them up to date with the latest information.
“We’ve worked really hard to bring information, timely, to family members,” the mayor said. “We want to be sure they don’t learn about it from the news.
Levine Cava said while “nobody wishes for that terrible news” that a loved one has been recovered deceased, officials are trying to help them understand the different possibilities.
“We’ve also talked with them about the developments, for example with the body parts, finding body parts. Obviously, that’s a very sobering bit of news. And they are understanding that that is a possibility so we are talking through what that means, how is the DNA evidence taken, what’s happening with the medical examiner, how they will be notified,” Levine Cava said.
Levine Cava said she was meeting with family members until about midnight last night.