As rescuers expanded their search to previously unsafe areas of rubble, the remains of the building were demolished overnight.

On Monday, three more bodies were found in the rubble of a partially collapsed apartment in Surfside, Florida, and the confirmed death toll reached 27 after the rest of the damaged complex was demolished overnight.

These bodies were found after search and rescue work resumed tear down The rest of the Surfside Champlain Tanan complex. Officials said the number of missing persons dropped to 118.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said: “The collapse of an entire apartment building was a devastating decision, and the demolition was never a decision I made lightly.”

Kava said at a media conference on Monday: “The controlled demolition of buildings is essential to expand our search. Indeed, if this building is not demolished, we cannot continue.”

At 10:30 on Sunday evening (Monday at 2:30 GMT), the explosives destroyed the rest of the partially collapsed 12-story building that originally collapsed on June 24.

Video clips managing the implosion showed the structure falling and spraying smoke and dust. Using a method called “high-energy logging,” workers use small explosives and rely on gravity to knock the building down.

The view of the partially collapsed Champlain Tower South residential building in Surfside, Florida, when it was demolished [Marco Bello/Reuters]

The mayor said that the fire department repeatedly and thoroughly searched people and pets in the building, used thermal scanning drones to detect body temperature, and set up live animal traps on the bare floor.

She said: “We really do our best to take every step. Our first responders take huge risks to ensure that all pets who are beloved family members are not left in the building.”

Search and rescue work has been cancelled Cava told reporters that during the demolition process, these efforts were restored within 15 minutes and concentrated in an area of ??the rubble pile that rescuers could not search before because the rest of the building was at risk of collapsing.

As of Monday morning, Tropical Storm Elsa Close to cuba The continuous wind speed is close to 100 km/h (60 mph) and it is ready to sweep the country on the way to Florida. The Cuban Meteorological Institute stated that it is moving northwest at 22 kilometers per hour (14 miles per hour).

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the storm is expected to approach western Florida north of Tampa on Tuesday or Wednesday.

After the bodies of three other three were found in the rubble of a collapsed high-rise apartment building in Florida, a forensic doctor’s vehicle was photographed [Marco Bello/Reuters]

The National Weather Service predicts that as the storm continues to move westward, there will be showers and thunderstorms in Miami-Dade, occasional strong gusts and heavy local rain, and possible flooding.

Before the demolition, residents of nearby buildings were told that they did not need to evacuate, but were instructed to stay indoors and turn off the air-conditioning due to dust.

Investigators have not yet determined What is the cause The 40-year-old Surfside complex collapsed. A 2018 engineering report found structural flaws that are now the focus of investigations including grand jury reviews.

The disaster prompted an urgent review of other buildings. On Friday, residents of Crestview Towers in North Miami Beach were told to leave immediately after engineers discovered serious concrete and electrical problems.