Crews Race Against Time, Methodically, On Day 6 Of Surfside Rescue Efforts
Rescue teams from across Florida and as far away as Israel and Mexico are carefully sifting through the rubble of the collapsed condo in Surfside, Fla., as they continue the search for survivors.
They found another body yesterday, bringing the death toll to 11. Officials say 150 people are still unaccounted for.
NPR's Jasmine Garsd is on the scene, and reports that thunderstorms and stifling heat are complicating the already-delicate search efforts. She spoke with crew members about the physically — and emotionally — grueling work.
Jonathan Blinkey, a supervisor with the Urban Search and Rescue Florida Task Force, reflected on his experience as he wrapped up an 18-hour shift, with glassy eyes and grime beneath his fingernails.
Captain Adam Brown with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is part of the team working to remove large sections of concrete, which he describes as a delicate balancing act.
"Every time we move something - a rock, a boulder, a piece of metal - it changes the whole dynamic of the entire pile of rubble," he says. "It is a very unsafe thing to do. You're talking about thousands of tons of material, so we do have to take our time."
But local officials and loved ones say they're still holding out hope as the work continues.
Here's what we know so far about the events leading up to the June 24 collapse.
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