Royal Caribbean cruise ship to house Surfside rescue workers

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship will be housing Surfside rescue workers ahead of a tropical storm approaching Florida.

The Explorer of the Seas ship will house 600 rescue workers, giving them hot meals, staterooms, Wi-Fi and laundry services, the company said, according to The Associated Press.

“This tragedy in our own backyard is heart-wrenching,” said CEO and Chairman of Royal Caribbean Group Richard Fain. “Our thoughts are with the families and our whole community, and our thanks go out to the hardworking search and rescue teams. Providing them shelter is a small way to show our support.”

The company began housing the workers on Thursday and will most likely keep them on the ship for the next month.

The workers had to go to the cruise ship instead of hotels because hotels in the area are heavily booked, Miami-Dade Assistant Fire Chief Raide Jadallah said.

Jadallah said the rescue efforts at the site could be paused for a second time next week as Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to hit the area. 

The death toll from the collapse increased to 24 on Saturday, with more than 100 people still missing.

The rest of the building that remained standing after the collapse will be torn down before the tropical storm hits because of safety concerns, officials said Saturday.