Miami Condo Deemed Unsafe, Residents Scramble To Evacuate
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - People who live in a Miami condo were forced to evacuate after the building was deemed unsafe late Monday.
The condo at 5050 Northwest 7th Street has more than 130 units and people who live there were given until around 8 a.m. Tuesday to be out.
"My grandfather just comes in the house screaming, 'we have to leave immediately'," said Mya Castanedo, whose family was given just hours to grab their belongings and leave their home. "It's really chaotic because we're not getting a final answer of what's going on. Everyone's just trying to pack their stuff and find somewhere to go."
The building has structural issues and failed its 40-year recertification, according to an email from the City of Miami. On July 7, building staff received a notice of violations. Last Friday, on August 9, the Building Department reviewed unpermitted work happening in the building and found "the columns to be structurally insufficient".
"I packed a bag, I packed a bag for my mom, for my grandmother, I grabbed my dogs," said Marialejandra Perez. "We're just here, you know, waiting."
The Chief of Staff for Commissioner Alex De La Portilla said the city is working to find available hotel rooms for displaced families who need one. She added the city will also cover the cost of the rooms until the condo building is safe again. But when the building will reopen to the more than 100 people displaced is uncertain.
"We don't know where we are going to go," said Dairon Deramico. "The city is saying they are going to give us a place, maybe for a couple of weeks or a few days. I don't know what's going to happen."
On Tuesday morning, building inspectors looked at the concrete columns in the condo's garage. City staff told CBS4 inspectors will assess the building once it is empty and secure.
