A huge rescue operation is under way in Miami-Dade County, Florida, following a 12-storey building partially collapsing, killing at least one person.
Images from Surfside, north of Miami Beach, show a huge pile of rubble hanging down one side of a residential apartment building.
At least one woman died, eight people were injured and there are fears that others are trapped in the debris.
The collapse is said to have occurred at around 02:00.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they had sent 80 vehicles to the scene. Police are also assisting with the rescue operation.
“The building shook and then I looked out the window and you couldn’t see, I thought it was like a storm or something coming in,” said an eyewitness, living in the building next door.
“When the dust cleared, the back two-thirds of the building was gone, it was down to the ground.”
Police gave the building’s location as 8777 Collins Avenue, the address of the 12-storey Champlain Towers, which contains more than 100 beachfront apartment s.
Surfside runs along Collins Avenue, north of Miami Beach city limits.
