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In pictures: Rescuers search rubble of Miami building

Rescuers have been working around the clock in the search for people trapped under the rubble of an apartment block that collapsed near Miami on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden has ordered federal assistance to support state and local response efforts.

Most the 12-storey oceanfront complex collapsed in the early hours of Thursday in the suburb of Surfside

Reuters An aerial view showing a partially collapsed building in Surfside near Miami Beach, Florida, US, 24 June 2021. — Most the 12-storey oceanfront complex collapsed in the early hours of Thursday in the suburb of Surfside

Sounds have been heard from beneath the giant mound of concrete and twisted metal

Reuters Emergency crew members search for missing residents in a partially collapsed building in Surfside, near Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., June 24, 2021. — Sounds have been heard from beneath the giant mound of concrete and twisted metal

Parts of children's bedrooms were visible

Getty Images Rubble hangs from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. — Parts of children's bedrooms were visible

At least one person has been killed and 99 are still missing, officials say

Reuters Onlookers view a partially collapsed residential building in Surfside, near Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., June 24, 2021. — At least one person has been killed and 99 are still missing, officials say

Residents and relatives have been gathering at the Surfside Community Center

Reuters People embrace at the Surfside Community Center where authorities are taking residents and relatives from a partially collapsed building in Surfside near Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., June 24, 2021. — Residents and relatives have been gathering at the Surfside Community Center

The cause of the collapse is unknown, although the tower was undergoing repairs

Reuters A building that partially collapsed is seen in Surfside, near Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., June 24, 2021. — The cause of the collapse is unknown, although the tower was undergoing repairs

Fire crew members tunnelled from an underground car park below the building in an effort to reach victims

MIAMI DADE FIRE DEPARTMENT/Reuters Fire crew members work at the basement parking garage of a partially collapsed residential building in Surfside, Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S., June 24, 2021. — Fire crew members tunnelled from an underground car park below the building in an effort to reach victims

Rescuers were using sonar cameras and specially trained dogs in the search

Reuters Emergency crews respond to a partially collapsed residential building in Surfside, near Miami Beach Florida, U.S. June 24, 2021. — Rescuers were using sonar cameras and specially trained dogs in the search

Authorities have begun taking DNA samples from relatives of those still missing in case only remains of their family members are found

Getty Images Search and Rescue personnel pull a body out of the rubble after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. — Authorities have begun taking DNA samples from relatives of those still missing in case only remains of their family members are found

Rain and storms are further complicating an already difficult task for the emergency teams

Getty Images A lightning strikes above the Champlain Towers South as Search and Rescue personnel work after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021 — Rain and storms are further complicating an already difficult task for the emergency teams

The search effort was delayed by at least one fire at the site

Getty Images First responders arrive at a partially collapsed building in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 24, 2021. — The search effort was delayed by at least one fire at the site

Experts who studied the building last year said it was unstable and had been sinking since the 1990s

Getty Images In this aerial view, search and rescue personnel work after the partial collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. — Experts who studied the building last year said it was unstable and had been sinking since the 1990s

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Miami building collapse