Several Injured In Explosion At Sunny Isles Beach Building
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SUNNY ISLES BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Firefighters are trying to determine if a Sunny Isles Beach building is stable following an explosion that injured four people.
Miami Dade Fire Rescue said one victim, listed as a trauma with severe burns, was airlifted to the hospital while two were taken by ground and another was treated at the scene.
Two firefighters were later injured during rescue efforts, totaling six people injured. The firefighters are expected to be okay.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews said the explosion was first reported just before noon and was believed to have been caused by a gas leak.
In a 911 call, one person could be heard saying,"Oh my God. Oh my gosh. It was a huge bang. I am not sure if there were people. A big chunk of the top of the building just came yanking down. I am talking about a big concrete chunk. Pieces of the top are shattered on top of the Monaco hotel."
Seventy-eight fire trucks showed up to help rescue efforts at the Chateau Beach Residences building located at 174th Street and Collins Avenue.
The high-rise building did not have residents but construction crews were in the building during the explosion in the boiler room.
"It was crazy. Just people running around, worried and then a lot of firefighters " said witness Anthony Chao.
Two people ended up trapped in the elevator but were later rescued.
Chopper4 was over the scene as a section of the top of the building could be seen collapsed near the boiler room.
The building was due to be open in just a few days but due to the incident, that is on hold indefinitely.
The aftermath of the explosion reached a nearby building, the Travelodge Monaco, in which a person laying by the pool suffered minor injuries after being hit by debris.
"I thought it was an accident and I turned away and I look again and I saw debris flying, going down on top of the hotel," said witness Anthony Deguzman.
Some traffic could also be seen in the area due to the incident.
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