MIAMI ( Associated Press) – Residents of a Miami Beach building located on the same street as the collapse of an apartment complex were forced to evacuate Thursday night after officials determined the structure was not safe.
Miami Beach spokeswoman Melissa Berthier said at around 4 p.m. Thursday that the city plans to post a notice about the structure’s hazard and order the immediate evacuation of the 14-story Port Royale building. According to the Miami Herald newspaper, about an hour later, the complex’s administration sent a mandatory notice to neighbors to leave before 7:00 p.m.,
Port Royale residents said Miami Beach city officials told them a day earlier that the property would have to be vacated, but an immediate eviction notice was not served until Thursday, WPLG-TV reported.
The building’s structural engineer’s report prompted a clearance notice for the 164-unit structure, located at 6969 Collins Avenue, which is undergoing re-certification after 50 years.
The Champlain Towers South apartment complex in Surfside, Florida, which collapsed in June 2021 killing 98 people, is also on Collins Avenue, about 1.3 miles (2 kilometers) from Port Royal.
The tragedy in a 12-story building at Surfside triggered the largest non-hurricane emergency operation in Florida history, with rescue teams from across the country and even from Israel calling on local workers to help find the victims. Arrived for ,
Engineers recommended installing additional “shoring” to reinforce areas in need of repair in the Port Royal garage to support the damaged beam. The Miami Herald reported that officials have indicated they expect reinforcements within 10 days.
