FOG BLOG U.S. NEWS LOG: PART OF BLDG LEFT STANDING, SHIFTS 12'', FEARS OF COLLAPSE HALTS SEARCH:

Florida building collapse: Search operation suspended due to safety fears

Joe Biden visits scene near Miami as some 145 missing people feared buried in rubble...US president Joe Biden visited Florida on Thursday to comfort the families of those killed and missing in last week’s 12-storey condominium collapse, as the search-and-rescue operation was temporarily suspended due to concerns about the stability of the remaining structure.

The confirmed death toll remained at 18, after the discovery of six more bodies in the ruins of the Champlain Towers South condo, including two children, aged 4 and 10. Another 145 people are missing and feared buried in the rubble, with hopes of finding any survivors dimming with each passing day.

After arriving in Miami, Mr Biden attended a briefing with local officials, including governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely seen as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024.

Mr Biden told them he would deliver “whatever you need” and said he expected the federal government would cover the full costs for the county and state.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “This is life or death.”