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Condo Collapse: Powerful photos and videos show indescribable tragedy in Surfside

Words aren't enough to explain the scale of the devastation.

SURFSIDE, Fla. — Emergency workers are combing through the twisted pile of metal and concrete that was once a 12-story condo building offering breathtaking views of South Florida's Atlantic Coast.

President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have declared emergencies, shuffling resources to Surfside, as families hold out hope that some of their loved ones survived Thursday's deadly collapse.

“It’s been a really, really difficult time for the state of Florida but particularly for the Surfside community," DeSantis said.

The rescuers themselves are taking extreme risks to try to save any survivors, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.

"Debris is falling on them as they do their work. We have structural engineers on site to ensure that they will not be injured, but they are proceeding because they are so motivated and they are taking extraordinary risk on the site every day,” she added.

A reunification center has been set up near the Champlain Towers South collapse location. DNA will be used to help identify those who died.

It remains unclear what caused the building to come crumbling down while families slept inside. You can click here for the latest updates on deaths and rescue efforts.

The photos and videos captured during and after the collapse illustrate the devastation in South Florida.

Surveillance video shows the moment the high-rise collapsed in two phases early Thursday morning.

Video shows a child being rescued from the collapse site before sunrise.

A helicopter flew over the rubble and what was still standing of the high-rise after the sun rose.

A still photo shows children's bunkbeds on the edge after the collapse happened.

In the image on the right, you can see children’s bunkbeds on the edge after that condo tower collapsed early this...

Posted by 10 Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 24, 2021

Dogs were dispatched to help search the rubble for survivors.

Credit: David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP
Fire rescue personnel conduct a search and rescue with dogs through the rubble of the Champlain Towers South Condo after the multistory building partially collapsed in Surfside, Fla., Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Families' belongings can be seen dangling from the side of what's left of the building.

Credit: AP
Household items and debris dangle from a partially collapsed multistory beachfront condo, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Crews taped off beach access points, from where beachgoers could see the building in shambles.

Bad weather is slowing the search for survivors, but emergency workers continue to push forward despite challenges.

Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo asks people to pray for miracles.

RELATED: How to check on family from the Surfside high-rise collapse

RELATED: What we know about the site of the Miami-area partial building collapse: Champlain Towers South

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