A controlled implosion of the former Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key filled the air with a cloud of dust Sunday, causing some to run and others to protect their face, several videos show.
Video footage posted on Instagram showed some people running through the streets after the demolition, which took place around 8:30 a.m. One woman could be seen covering her nose and mouth, according to the social media post. In a separate video posted on Facebook, one man can be heard saying the smoke “has taken over Brickell” while another man walks by in a face mask.
Residents in Brickell Key or nearby neighborhoods were not evacuated during the demolition. Those who live or work within an 800-foot exclusion zone were instructed to stay inside.
But hundreds of people were standing outside to watch the 23-story building collapse. The onlookers dispersed while dust headed west toward Brickell Avenue.
Property developer Swire Properties and the City of Miami didn’t immediately respond Sunday to questions about the dust cloud’s effect on air quality in Brickell and nearby neighborhoods.
Swire said prior to Sunday’s demolition that it had made efforts to mitigate the impact, including removing concrete walls, drywall and hazardous materials from the building.
“Dust, debris and vibrations are typical during both conventional and implosion demolitions,” according to a document from developer and owner Swire Properties. “The main difference is that, in the case of an implosion, these results are condensed into a much shorter timeline.”
