Surfside Building Update: Five More Victims Found In Collapse, Death Toll Grows To 27

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue resumed search efforts early Monday after officials brought down the remaining portion of Champlain Towers South near Miami in a controlled demolition.

Five more victims were found in the collapsed rubble with the death toll increasing to 27.

Officials hope the controlled demolition will now make it safer to expand their search and rescue efforts. There are still 118 people missing.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Monday at a press conference that the demolition of the remainder of the condo has allowed rescue workers to work on a pile that was not accessible before.

“Please join me in praying for those who lost their lives and the families who mourn and for all of those who are still waiting,” Levine Cava said.

Discussions on demolishing the other half of the building was sped up by the looming Tropical Storm Elsa. Rescue crews were concerned of the potential hurricane and decided a controlled demolition would limit where the building would fall.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that the demolition of the remaining part of the collapsed building in Surfside was a "good effort" and the "right thing to do" to help everyone move forward.

The cause of the collapse is still unknown and the Levine Cava expects the investigation to “continue over a long period of time.”

“This investigation is going to be ongoing. It's very complicated,” she said.