Roof of Miami-Dade apartment partially collapses, had already passed 40-year inspection

The roof of a Miami-Dade apartment building partially collapsed on Thursday despite the fact that the building had already passed its 40-year inspection.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the incident at 4 p.m., and the 32 residents inside the building were safely evacuated. Footage from NBC Miami shows some of the building’s roof strewn on the ground. 

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Erika Benitez told reporters that there were no injuries and damage was isolated to the exterior of the building, NBC News reported.

The building is located at 17350 NW 68th Avenue.

It’s unclear why the roof partially collapsed.

The partial collapse comes three weeks after a Surfside condominium partially collapsed. Since then, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (D) ordered an audit of all buildings over 40 years old that have not already completed recertification. NBC News reports that at least five buildings have been evacuated in the state.

Cava said that she went to the scene of the partial roof collapse on Thursday and was briefed by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. She said on Twitter that the Red Cross was assisting families. 

The building had already received its 40-year recertification, and Cava said that no issues were raised in the recertification. 

“There was reporting from some of the people who live there that there was some leaks and concerns,” Cava said, according to NBC Miami. “We understand that there was some kind of inspection made, some repairs were underway.”

According to property records, residents were asked to temporarily vacate the building in 2013 due to structural violations that deemed the building unsafe, the Miami Herald reported. Additionally, there were some complaints by a tenant in 2014 regarding mold, ceiling deterioration and elevator issues.