Remains of Miami condo demolished ahead of storm Elsa as death toll reaches 24

The remains of the partially collapsed Miami condo have been demolished ahead of storm Elsa.

Explosions were heard in the area at 10.30 PM ET before the building began to fall, with the hope that the demolition will give rescuers access to more areas of the rubble as they continue their search, per The Sun.

Watch the controlled demolition below: 

The demolition took place despite residents' pleas to save any pets which may have been left alive in the wreckage, and comes as the death toll from the tragedy reached 24 on Sunday, July 4.

The Guardian reports that there was a glimmer of hope that some animals may have survived on Saturday when a cat was seen on a lower floor of the remaining flank of the 12-story complex.

However, it was not established whether or not the cat belonged to a resident or not.

Following the demolition, teams will continue their search for the 121 people who have been missing since the tragedy on June 24, which has left at least 24 people dead.

In an interview with CBS, Mayor Charles Burkett said: "We need to get back to [searching the rubble] as soon as possible. We need to get this building taken down and we need to move forward with the rescue of all those people that are still left in the rubble.

"The intention is to bring the building down in a westward direction so that the debris pile that exists with victims in it is not affected.

"You know, the [approaching storm] is going to turn out to have probably been a blessing in disguise because there's an area of that mound which we were not able to work in safely. And this demolition is going to open up wide the whole area. And we're going to be able to pour resources onto that pile."

Residents in the surrounding area were told to take shelter elsewhere overnight following the announcement of the demolition.

Credit: Alamy / Planetpix

Colonel Golan Vach, an Israeli search and rescue expert who has worked at the site, said that he did not believe that any more survivors would be found in the wreckage.

He told Local10: "I believe right now that the chances are close to zero, unfortunately."

Miami Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that the wreckage was subsequently checked multiple times with drones with thermal imaging technology in a bid to locate any trapped animals.

Mayor Cava said on Sunday night, per ABC News: "The latest information we have is that there are no animals remaining in the building."

Featured image credit: Alamy / Sipa US