Surfside rescuers step up search as storm closes in
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Rescue workers search the rubble of the Champlain Tower in Surfside, Florida, on July 5. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui Trinkl/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Florida rescuers were battling strong winds during their search through the rubble of the collapsed Surfside condo as Tropical Storm Elsa neared the state overnight, after finding four more bodies at the site Monday.
What's happening: Maggie Castro, a firefighter and paramedic with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, said: "We know that with every day that goes by, it is harder to see a miracle happening," per AP.
- There's a risk of thunderstorms "due to an elevated tornado threat" on Tuesday, per the National Weather Service.
The big picture: The confirmed death toll stands at 28 with 117 people still unaccounted for from the June 24 partial collapse at Champlain Towers South.
- The search was paused over the weekend so a controlled demolition using explosives could bring down the remains of the building north of Miami Beach.
- President Biden has made an emergency declaration for Florida to assist with additional federal funding for debris removal and other measures.
Of note: The definitive cause of the collapse is still unknown, but the president of the building's condominium association warned three months before the disaster that damage highlighted in a 2018 engineer's report had "gotten significantly worse."
In photos: Scenes from the Surfside condo demolition
Go deeper: Remembering the victims of the Surfside condo collapse
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
