SURFSIDE -- Hope was a word used a lot during Friday evening's news conference updating the search for more than 150 missing people at the site of a condominium collapse in Surfside.
"We are working, and we have hope," Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. "We are working around the clock to find people and bring them out safely. (Our rescue team) has hope and we are standing with them. They are working tirelessly, they are passionate about this. They are dedicated to finding people in the rubble."
Even though no additional survivors have been found, Cava says there are good reasons to remain hopeful. "They see fissures that they could go in... places they could break through... and as long as they have encouraging signs, such as knocking sounds, they will continue." Cava insists rescues are possible as much as a week after the collapse, based on experience in other rescues.
Cava says teams from all over the state. Other officials say teams from Mexico and Israel are taking part in the search.
Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky says heavy equipment has been brought in, including cranes. These will be used carefully, with advice from engineers. "It comes in as we're going through. One is being set up," but it's up to engineers as to how it will be used.
Cominsky adds that a fire burning deep within the rubble is a hazard for rescuers, and they haven't been able to reach it.
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