Surfside beach, South Carolina: A three-storey building closed for structural problems after inspection

A complex of apartments at Surfside beach was deemed unsafe after inspection and closed due to structural deficiencies. Initially, according to Town records fire marshal during a routine inspection noticed structural issues with front walkways, railings and balconies.

On the 16^th of April, a building inspector examined the structure and suggested that an engineer should assess it further. After his recommendation, the fire department alongside with outside engineer evaluated the building and identified deficient escape routes and structural weaknesses.

Specifically, the thee-storey building which is located approximately two miles north of the Garden City Pier, with a first-floor parking area shut down due to its condition as it poses a fire hazard and deemed was unsafe for safety reasons in order to protect human life, as Fire Marshal Keith Williams announced on July 1^st. As of present, the owner of the building has not made a statement and it is uncertain when the building repairs will commence and when the Sandfiddler will reopen.

It should be noted that a 2023 investigation conducted by The Post and Courier revealed that aging coastal high-rise buildings are vulnerable to structural deterioration due to climate conditions and the corrosive effects of the sea. The newspaper specifically analyzed data to map the location and age of all high-rise buildings that are at least 6 stories tall and located near the ocean. They found that 230 out of 500 structures meeting these criteria are at least 30 years old and are experiencing corrosion as a result of previous floodings and hurricanes they have withstood.