By Raul Castillo
Jun 10, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT
This Monday, a large fire at an apartment complex in Miami, Florida, forced the evacuation of dozens of residents and left one man seriously injured after a shooting.
The incident began around 8:15 am in the Temple Court Apartments building, where Miami firefighters found a man with a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the EFE news agency.
Miami Mayor Francis Suárez reported that the shooting victim was taken in critical condition to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Temple Court Management identified the person as one of its employees, NBC Miami reported.
“We are still determining the cause of these events and are checking for other injuries. The police are investigating and we will help in any way we can,” Temple Court Management told the outlet. “We are heartbroken by everything that has happened today, and our thoughts and prayers are with our team member, his family and the residents of the Temple Court community.”
Panic among the inhabitants
The first alerts about the fire generated scenes of panic among residents, many of whom reported being trapped in their apartments.
Firefighters managed to rescue several people. Miami Fire Rescue spokesperson Iggy Carroll told NBC News that more than 70 firefighters and 38 fire trucks were on the scene of the ongoing fire as of 10:25 a.m.
Mayor Suárez highlighted the bravery and effort of the fire team in the rescue operation.
The fire originated on the third floor of the building. According to NBC Miami, many residents of the building are elderly with mobility issues and needed to be rescued from their balconies.
Meanwhile, the evacuees have been transferred to José Martí Park, where they are being provided with medical care and other necessary resources, according to EFE.
Local authorities and emergency services are working together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those affected.
Miami Police issued a safety advisory, urging citizens to avoid the fire area to prevent possible damage. Although the shooting is still under investigation and the shooter has not been identified, authorities reiterated that there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.
With information from EFE.
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