Florida Condo Collapse Began Weeks Before Disaster, Investigation Finds

A federal investigation has revealed that the deadly collapse of a beachfront condominium in Florida in 2021 began developing weeks before the building suddenly fell, killing 98 people.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said in its final report that parts of the building’s structure started failing in early June 2021, before the collapse of the 12-storey Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida.

Investigators found that the building had serious structural weaknesses from the beginning. The design did not fully meet required building standards, and later modifications, including changes made around the pool deck, placed additional pressure on an already weakened structure.

According to the report, two connections between garage columns and the pool deck began to fail, triggering a slow chain reaction that eventually caused the building to collapse in the early hours of June 24, 2021.

Most residents were asleep when the disaster happened. The victims included members of the local Jewish community, as well as the sister of Paraguay’s first lady, her family, and their nanny.

Investigators also found signs of damage before the collapse, including cracks on the pool deck and increasing water leaks in the parking garage. Witnesses described seeing the pool deck collapse section by section before parts of the main tower fell.

The report said corrosion of reinforcing steel and years of maintenance problems contributed to the tragedy.

Following the collapse, Florida introduced new laws requiring condominium associations to maintain enough funds for major repairs and safety improvements.

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