Florida has been warned of a potential condominium safety crisis after thousands of buildings were reportedly found to have serious structural damage, five years after the fatal Surfside collapse. The findings matter because they suggest that ageing coastal properties may still pose significant risks to residents if defects are not identified and repaired promptly.

The report links the concern to the 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which killed 98 people and prompted greater scrutiny of condominium safety. It says thousands of Florida condos have since been identified with serious structural issues, underscoring the scale of the challenge for owners, associations and regulators.