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At This Hour

60 Killed, 80 Feared Dead in Florida Condo Collapse; Haiti in Turmoil as Police Hunt for President's Killers; U.S. Stocks Plummet as Delta Variant Fears Grip Wall Street. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired July 08, 2021 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We were.

[11:30:00]

And that means the storms aren't as high as they were, which means the storm is trying to fall apart because it's over land. That's the good news.

Now, there's still a lot of water out here and it will eventually get over that water likely to the east of the Delmarva later on tonight. We will see some winds still. Forecast is for 45 miles per hour. I'm seeing a gust down there around in Myrtle around 41.

Here goes the storm. It does make its way slightly offshore near New York City by the tomorrow morning. And that is the story, and eventually on up into Atlantic Canada. But when this gets offshore tomorrow, there will be a significant chance of flash flooding. Three to five inches of rainfall expected in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and obviously along Long Island. That is what happens somewhere around 5:00 tomorrow morning right there in that little part, right along Long Island itself.

And then later on tomorrow night, flooding possible in Massachusetts, also into Connecticut, there will be a stripe of rainfall here that will be significant. And when you have a lot of pavement, a lot of concrete, you're going to get some flooding. We're going to keep watching that for you as the day goes on. Boris?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN AT THIS HOUR: Important for folks in the northeast to prepare for all that rain. Chad Myers, thank you so much.

Also developing at this hour, officials have just increased the death toll in that condo building that collapsed in South Florida two weeks ago today. Overnight, the rescue phase at the site came to an end as the fire chief concedes there is no chance of life for those that have not yet been found in the rubble.

CNN Correspondent Leyla Santiago is live for us in Surfside, Florida, with the new developments. Leyla, a very difficult and symbolic transition between search and rescue and now recovery.

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, and that is tough news for the families, the loved ones, this community as they mourned last night and continue to mourn today. You mentioned the death toll on the rise. I can tell you that officials have just announced that 60 are dead, 80 now feared dead as they continue to dig today.

We have seen that the digging continues, that we have seen heavy machinery continuing to work. And it is interesting because even last night, I took note of that as people learned of the news, they gathered at the memorial site kind of leaned against the railing as they couldn't take their eyes off of that pile of debris.

And as they prayed, as they hugged, as they held each other and tried to comfort one another, you could still hear the work being done just a block away.

I spoke to one firefighter who told me that he wants nothing more than to bring closure to these families. And today, during the media briefing, the Miami-Dade mayor echoed that sentiment, making sure that family knows that every victim that is pulled and found is being handled extremely carefully and with compassion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA (D-MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL): We have a tent designated on site, and when a Jewish body is discovered, a prayer is performed and in specific protocols are followed to honor the faith traditions and the integrity of the investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANTIAGO: And so now, Boris, that it is in the recovery mode, we can expect for things to sort of accelerate a bit. You will, as I mentioned -- out there, see teams at work, each in 12-hour shifts, so we will expect to get our next briefing in the afternoon. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Yes. Hopefully, this next phase will finally bring some measure of closure to families that have been suffering in that excruciating limbo. Leyla Santiago from Surfside, thank you so much.

We want to update you on the situation in Haiti. That country in turmoil this morning as authorities look for the assassins that killed their president. The latest on the investigation and who may replace the slain leader after a quick break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:35:00]

SANCHEZ: There is an intense manhunt underway right now for the assassins that killed Haiti's president, Jovenel Moise, in a brazen attack yesterday morning. Police say they killed four suspects and they've detained two others. And listen to this, Haiti's ambassador to the United States described the suspects as foreign mercenaries.

Haiti's first lady was also shot. She's now recovering at a hospital in Florida.

Let's go there with CNN's Matt Rivers. He is live outside that hospital in Miami. Matt, what details are you learning?

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. you Know, Boris, this is such an ongoing situation right now, minute-by-minute, in Haiti in terms of the investigation and what we know. As you mentioned, what we're hearing so far from Haitian authorities is that four suspects involved in this assassination have been kill, two more detained.

The ambassador to the United States from Haiti is saying that all six of those people are foreign nationals, though not saying what nationality exactly they are. He said they're still trying to figure out that information. But what we do know is that they're looking for more people beyond just the six. That is continuing to go on that manhunt and where it goes from here in terms of who else is involved still not sure.

A little bit earlier, the former prime minister of Haiti was speaking to our Jim Sciutto.

[11:35:02]

He said that, according to his information, the president, President Moise, was shot 16 times by those assailants after entering his residence. But, Boris, that is about all we know at this point. There are so many other questions that still remain about how this happened. I mean, this is the presidential residence. How did assailants get past the very robust security measures that are usually in place there? Who are these assailants? What is their motivation? Who financed them?

I mean, there are so many different questions that remain unanswered at this point and we're getting such sporadic information from the Haitian government. I mean, a lot of information we got is from ambassador from Haiti here to the United States. We've heard very little from the government in Haiti that is still functioning more or less.

And so that is where we stand, just looking, asking for more information about how something like this could happen, even in a country like Haiti, which has seen so much political unrest, so much violence in the past year or so, and even going back further than that. Still this is a shocking assassination and one that still has so many questions surrounding the investigation.

SANCHEZ: Yes, many questions in Haiti and including who is going to replace the president, an unclear situation in a country that's dealt with so much turmoil. Matt Rivers from Miami, I appreciate the update.

Coming up, with U.S. troops almost completely out of Afghanistan, President Biden is going to be speaking shortly about ending America's longest war. We're going to take a look at what is at stake as the Taliban gains ground by the hour. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:45:00] SANCHEZ: In just a few hours, President Biden is set to speak about the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of American forces now more than 90 percent complete. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announcing this morning that most British troops now have left Afghanistan. It comes as the Taliban is making major gains.

CNN's Anna Coren is live in Kabul with the very latest. Anna, do you have any indication that Afghan leaders are going to be watching Biden's remarks?

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Boris. Everybody will be listening for what President Biden has to say. We understand that he is going to be talking about a safe passage for these Afghan interpreters and translators. We know there is something like --

SANCHEZ: Unfortunately, it appears as though we've had some technical difficulties with Anna Coren. Anna, are you there?

COREN: Yes, Boris, I am here. Apologies, this is what happens when we come live to Kabul.

But as I was saying, we've learned that only 9,000 of those SIV applications will actually be processed.

But President Biden is likely to announce a safe passage. We know he's been talking to a number of Central Asian countries about providing that safe haven once these visa applications are approved before moving to the United States.

We're also learning from women's rights groups that they want another 2,000 of these SIVs for vulnerable women. They say that the judges, journalists, police officers, politicians, activists have all been targeted and harassed. And we have seen the Taliban, Islamic State, killing off some of these very prominent females in Afghan society. So they say that America needs to provide these SIVs for these vulnerable women as well.

Boris, it is really quite tragic what is happening, obviously, the deteriorating security situation, no doubt, but we are witnessing a brain drain. These are some of the best and brightest that Afghanistan has to offer and these people are the future of this country, and yet this government adviser, female government adviser that we spoke to said that is just creating more and more panic as people do not see a future here and just want to leave.

SANCHEZ: A state of panic in Afghanistan as the United States departs. Anna Coren from Kabul, thank you so much.

Joining us now to discuss the future of Afghanistan, and President Biden's comments today, CNN Military Analyst, retired Major General James Spider Marks. General, always a pleasure to have you on and get your insight.

It seems like a foregone conclusion that there is going to be a civil war in Afghanistan. The Taliban has met little to no resistance at this point. Have you seen anything that points to a different out come?

MAJ. GEN. JAMES MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I don't, other than sadly the possibility that the Taliban will take over essentially unopposed. Certainly there is a resistance in the capital but there has been -- demonstrated little resistance in some of those other provinces where the Taliban, in many cases, have regained control without a fight, without a fight, without a shot being fired.

So I don't see any other outcome. It seems like the only alternative is going to be Taliban alternative. And, remember, from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban were in charge, but in that capacity of being in charge, they only controlled about 30 percent of the country, which is about where they are right now.

[11:50:06]

So, you've got this vast ungoverned space, which is really a breeding ground for various forms of terrorism that we've been introduced to over the course of the last two decades, right, Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as ISIS.

And so, look, this is an unholy trinity of the Taliban, A.Q. and then ISIS. And they don't necessarily get along and they're not on the same page. So you see the real situation for upheaval and chaos, not simply a government in being resisted by the Taliban, but this internal strife is going to define this country for quite some time.

SANCHEZ: And, General, I'm curious about messaging here from President Biden. Nearly 2,400 U.S. troops have been killed there, some 20,000 wounded in a war that lasted two decades. Given the dire situation in Afghanistan, the bleak picture of its future, what are you going to be listening for from the president when he addresses the situation?

MARKS: Essentially two things. One is I want to see -- I want to hear the president acknowledge those incredible sacrifices that this nation, entirely this nation made and then those servicemen and women who lost their life in this valiant effort. That's number one.

And, number two, I'd like him to tell the Afghan people, look, we may physically depart, but we're still with you and we appreciate what you have done to support this effort to try to rebuild Afghanistan, and so we're there for you. Those are really the two messages. In other words, that's got to be a very serious conversation but it's got to be one that embraces this incredible sense of selflessness that the United States has always used to define itself.

SANCHEZ: Yes, we appreciate all our service members, especially those who served in Afghanistan. We appreciate your service as well and your insight this morning, General Spider Marks, thank you for your time.

MARKS: Thanks, Boris, very much.

SANCHEZ: Of course. Ahead, a turbulent day on Wall Street. U.S. stocks tumbling at this hour. What has investors worried? We'll have details in a live report. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:55:00]

SANCHEZ: Developing at this hour, a rocky day on Wall Street so far. U.S. stocks down sharply as fears over the delta variant and a slowing economic rebound rattle investors.

CNN Business Lead Writer Matt Egan joins me now with more. Matt, concerns about the delta variant have been around for a couple of weeks. Why is today significant?

MATT EGAN, CNN BUSINESS LEAD WRITER: Yes, Boris, it's a great question. I mean, there's no question that this red-hot stock market is starting to cool off a little bit, and the delta variant of COVID is one of the reasons why people are concerned.

Now, remember, this has been described as COVID-19 on steroids, it's about twice as infectious. And we've learned just today that Tokyo will not allow any fans at the Olympics. Japan has declared a state of emergency. So that has reinforced some of these COVID concerns.

And I think the big worry is that this could actually dent the economic comeback. I mean, remember, investors had been banking on blockbuster, spectacular economic growth and they're going to be disappointed with anything less than that.

Another issue here is the Federal Reserve. The Fed has signaled that it might remove some of its emergency programs. That might not be good news for the market. But, big picture, I mean, that would actually signal confidence in the economic recovery. It's not necessarily a reason to worry.

All this in context though, I mean, the stock market was at record highs just also heading into the 4th of July weekend, the S&P 500 had actually enjoyed its longest streak of record highs since 1997 when Bill Clinton was in the White House.

The market cannot go up forever. And, in fact, you know, a pullback can be a healthy thing. As one analyst put it to me just before, he said, listen, we're allowed to have one day of selling.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Matt, I'm hearing that as buy the dip.

EGAN: Exactly.

SANCHEZ: Matt Egan, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

EGAN: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: We want to close with a message from tennis star Naomi Osaka who is opening up about her mental health and why she skipped press conferences at the French Open, ultimately withdrawing from the tournament altogether.

The four-time Grand Slam champion penning an essay in Time Magazine citing what she calls her natural introverted nature. Here is what Osaka writes. Quote, I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it's still so new to me and I don't have all the answers. I do hope that people can relate and understand it's okay to not be okay and it's okay to talk about it.

The 23-year-old ends her essay by saying, Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up, I may have saved a life. If that's true, then it was all worth it.

Osaka will make her return to the court at the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympic Games where she will have quite a few fans, including this one cheering her on.

Thank you so much joining us today. Don't go anywhere. Inside Politics with John King starts right now.

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