This is a safe haven group; your comment is out of order.

Please delete.

Reminiscent of the "olden days" when people went to the movies

for the air conditioning in the heat of summer.

Large signs outside the theatres read
"AIR CONDITIONED".

Son lives in 4-story condo building near Sarasota; open garage under 1/2 of building.

I hope all the bases are covered, but likely owners are looking over their shoulders about now.

And does he pay the usage fee?

Sadly, I would think the ongoing fires throughout the wreckage would be the

coup de grace for anyone that survived the initial collapse.
Smoke inhalation over a long period.
God bless those poor victims.
And may the rest of us and the world learn a little more about building maintenance, etc.

Wouldn't you hate to be trying to sell an ocean-front condo 50 miles north or south of the

Champlain Towers?

Not a geologist, but I believe karsts can be more than mountains.

I first encountered a karst area in the former Yugoslavia ca 30+ yrs ago.
It was a lake region, it may have been at a mid-high elevation, I don't know/recall.
I believe you're referring to those sharp mountainous, tower-like areas of China, etc.

Thanks for the cogent explanation.

I have a son living on the Gulf side of FL, though I haven't spoken with him re this situation.
He's on the mainland, though the area is marshy; near Ana Maria Island, & Sarasota.

Re HOAs and maintenance costs: repairs and maintenance can play havoc with budgets fairly quickly. Many of these owners were from out-of-country, and likely not inclined to unexpected expenses. Now their investments are lost; doubt insurance will reimburse them.

I'm sure you know the geology better than I, not a scientist.

I do note that the ground was found to be sinking, though I guess that's because it was reclaimed sea-land originally.
And yes, there were apparently problems with water rotting the steel and eroding the concrete.
I believe climate change is playing a part in this - more frequent rainstorms, ocean rising etc.
As I understand it, the city of Miami regularly has water in its streets. - Is that correct?

Understand, I'm not happy or gloating re this problem. It's a tragedy.
This disaster may be the canary in the coal mine.

I think most of Florida is a karst - limestone which invites sinkholes sooner or later.